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“UNITED STATES-ISRAEL ADVANCED RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP ACT OF 2016” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H6332-H6335 on Nov. 29, 2016.
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UNITED STATES-ISRAEL ADVANCED RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP ACT OF 2016
Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5877) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 to promote cooperative homeland security research and antiterrorism programs relating to cybersecurity, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5877
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016''.
SEC. 2. COOPERATIVE HOMELAND SECURITY RESEARCH AND
ANTITERRORISM PROGRAMS RELATING TO
CYBERSECURITY.
(a) Homeland Security Act of 2002.--Section 317 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 195c) is amended--
(1) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraphs:
``(3) for international cooperative activities identified in the previous reporting period, a status update on the progress of such activities, including whether goals were realized, explaining any lessons learned, and evaluating overall success; and
``(4) a discussion of obstacles encountered in the course of forming, executing, or implementing agreements for international cooperative activities, including administrative, legal, or diplomatic challenges or resource constraints.'';
(2) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections
(h) and (i), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection:
``(g) Cybersecurity.--As part of the international cooperative activities authorized in this section, the Under Secretary, in coordination with the Department of State and appropriate Federal officials, may enter into cooperative research activities with Israel to strengthen preparedness against cyber threats and enhance capabilities in cybersecurity.''.
(b) United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014.--Subsection (c) of section 7 of the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-296; 22 U.S.C. 8606) is amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``Pilot'';
(2) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``pilot'';
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(4) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) cybersecurity.''.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act or the amendments made by this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ratcliffe) and the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that today the House is considering H.R. 5877, the United States-Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016.
Israel is our strongest and most trusted ally in the Middle East, and I am grateful to join with the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), my friend, in working to expand and strengthen this bond through long-term collaboration on cybersecurity efforts between our countries. H.R. 5877 builds on decades of partnership with the State of Israel by amending current law to authorize the Under Secretary of the Science and Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to enter into cooperative research activities with Israel.
H.R. 5877 also amends the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 by further formalizing the program and by adding cybersecurity to the list of research areas authorized under the act. The U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 currently authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct cooperative research programs to enhance Israel's capabilities in border security, explosives detection, and emergency services. My bill now adds cybersecurity to that important list.
Mr. Speaker, violence and instability in the Middle East present significant challenges for Israel as our major strategic partner in that region of the world, and enhancing collaboration between our countries is, therefore, essential to ensuring Israel's continued ability to defend herself.
Mr. Speaker, I introduced this legislation following an in-depth congressional delegation that I led to Israel earlier this year, along with my colleague, Mr. Langevin. While there, we were able to meet with Israel's top national security figures, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to discuss homeland security and cybersecurity threats to the United States and Israel, and to develop strategies for better cooperation in defending against these threats.
Mr. Langevin and I also met with Israel's cybersecurity firms to learn about their efforts and to discuss the potential application of these innovative technologies to U.S. homeland security. In recent years, Israel's tech sector has been booming with cybersecurity and technology startups, and many United States tech companies now have a presence in Israel. Much of Israel's success in the tech sector results from its development of a very robust cyber workforce, and we discussed ways to apply these lessons here in the United States.
The United States and Israel share a joint recognition that cybersecurity is national security, and that our two nations must closely partner to combat these growing threats. This is exactly why I was so pleased to be able to introduce H.R. 5877, the United States-
Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016, and why I also express my strong support for Mr. Langevin's bill, H.R. 5843, the United States-Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation Enhancement Act of 2016.
I thank my friend and colleague, Mr. Langevin, for his bipartisan partnership on these very important bills. As the co-founder and cochairman of the bipartisan Cybersecurity Caucus, he has long been a leader on cybersecurity issues here in Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I also thank Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Thompson, and subcommittee Ranking Member Richmond for their help in getting this legislation across the finish line today. I also thank Chairman Royce and the staff of the Foreign Affairs Committee for their assistance in moving the legislation to the floor today.
I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC, November 14, 2016.Hon. Michael McCaul,Chairman, House Committee on Homeland Security.
Dear Chairman McCaul: Thank you for consulting with the Foreign Affairs Committee regarding H.R. 5877, the United States-Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016. I agree that the Foreign Affairs Committee may be discharged from further consideration of that measure, so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
I am writing to confirm our mutual understanding that forgoing further action on this measure does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the future. I also request your support for the appointment of Foreign Affairs conferees to any House-Senate conference on this legislation.
I ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in your committee report, and also in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill.
Sincerely,
Edward R. Royce,Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Homeland Security,
Washington, DC, November 15, 2016.Hon. Ed Royce,Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Dear Chairman Royce: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 5877, the ``United States-Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016.'' I appreciate your support in bringing this legislation before the House of Representatives, and accordingly, understand that the Committee on Foreign Affairs will forego further action on the bill.
The Committee on Homeland Security concurs with the mutual understanding that by foregoing further action on this bill at this time, the Committee on Foreign Affairs does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this bill or similar legislation in the future. In addition, should a conference on this bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on Foreign Affairs represented on the conference committee.
I will insert copies of this exchange in the report on the bill and in the Congressional Record during consideration of this bill on the House floor. I thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Michael T. McCaul,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security.
Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support of H.R. 5877, the United States-Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016.
Mr. Speaker, both this bill and the subsequent measure that we will consider today are connected, as the chairman mentioned, to a congressional delegation trip that Chairman Ratcliffe and I took to Israel earlier this year. I thank Chairman Ratcliffe for his leadership on cybersecurity and other homeland security related issues.
The focus of our trip was cybersecurity, and we learned a great deal about the innovative work the Israelis are doing in this space, both within government and in the private sector.
Israel was one of the first countries to recognize the potential threat posed by interconnected computer systems, and they have been leaders in cybersecurity now for decades. For instance, the first stateful firewall technology was developed by an Israeli firm. Today, these firewalls are ubiquitous across the information security landscape.
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In fact, despite its size, Israel is the second largest exporter of cybersecurity goods and services behind only the United States.
In addition to being a fertile source of public and private sector innovation in the domain, Israel is also the United States' critical strategic partner in the Middle East. In recognizing this confluence of strategic and research interests, the Department of Homeland Security established a memorandum of agreement with the Israeli Ministry of Public Security that was focused on joint homeland security research and development efforts, including cybersecurity. As a founding member of the Homeland Security Committee, I remember when this MOA was first reached, and I think it is a very positive thing that we are working together on these types of issues with Israel.
This MOA provides an excellent foundation for cooperation between our two nations; but one of the common themes we heard during our trip was: Can we be doing even more? After all, it is my firm belief that cybersecurity is the most significant national security challenge of the information age in which we live.
It has certainly been a pleasure working with Mr. Ratcliffe, who, very quickly during his time here in Congress, has recognized the significance of the challenge that is in front of us.
This national security challenge, of course, is not confined to any nation. On the contrary, our adversaries in cyberspace--most notably Iran--are infiltrating the networks in both of our countries. What is more, the interconnected nature of our information systems leads to a blurring of geography. A cyber threat against Israel could easily migrate to the United States or vice versa, and there is no Internet border patrol, if you will, that will preemptively stop it from spreading.
Some of these challenges can be addressed through collective cyber defense, particularly information sharing, which is why I am grateful that then-Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas negotiated an enhanced cybersecurity cooperative agreement with Israel earlier this year that will promote engagement and collaboration by our respective computer emergency readiness teams, or CERTs.
One of the things that I have learned in my near decade as co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus is that the landscape evolves at a dizzying pace. While we must work with our allies to jointly use existing capabilities, it is only through the development of innovative new techniques and technologies that we have any hope of stemming the tide of the cyber attacks that we face.
With that background in mind, Mr. Speaker, I offer my full-throated support for the bill under consideration. H.R. 5877 expands an existing pilot program at the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency, or HSARPA, to further collaboration on cybersecurity capability development. This program is particularly important because it addresses specific needs from the homeland security community which may not be present in other sectors and which may not be addressed by existing commercial, off-the-shelf products.
Cybersecurity is subject to the same valley of death, if you will, between early applied research and viable commercial product as other cutting-edge fields, and this bill helps ensure that innovative technologies will make it to market that are responsive to the needs of our DHS cybersecurity professionals. This last point, of course, is worth reemphasizing. While we face similar challenges on government networks as other entities, small businesses and government agencies all run Windows on their PCs.
We also face problems that, of course, are unique to nation-states. It is incumbent upon nations that believe in a free and open Internet to work together to preserve its immense benefit and to facilitate collaboration between our countries' innovators. It is natural for us to expand other areas of similar homeland security interests--
explosives detection, border security, and emergency services--to include cybersecurity.
I am grateful for Mr. Ratcliffe's leadership in bringing forth a bill that both cements existing relationships and expands them to the leading threat facing our Nation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5877.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I again thank Congressman Langevin for his kind words and for his leadership in connection with this bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining on my side?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Rhode Island has 14 minutes remaining.
Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend Mr. Ratcliffe and Mr. Langevin for their leadership on this issue, and I rise in support of H.R. 5877, which speaks to the crucialness of cybersecurity as does the following bill by Mr. Langevin.
It is interesting that, some years ago, as the chairperson of the Transportation Security Subcommittee, infrastructure was included, and cybersecurity was a part of that. During that tenure, we looked at the vast impact that cyber and security would have on the lives of Americans and on the people around the world. From water systems to sewer systems, an attack on the cyber system could clearly undermine the quality of life of people around the world. Obviously, Israel fully comprehended this in its enhanced level of innovative work when dealing with cybersecurity and particularly, as Mr. Langevin said, in the importance of creating firewalls, which we have been able to see.
I congratulate the sponsors of this legislation and will say that we need to have cybersecurity issues clearly in our eyes' view. I acknowledge the bipartisan work of the Committee on Homeland Security under the leadership of Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson, and I acknowledge the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies Subcommittee that has Mr. Richmond as the ranking member.
I also add my support for H.R. 5843, sponsored by Mr. Langevin, which provides a pilot cybersecurity research program that will require the Department of Homeland Security to establish a grant program to support cybersecurity research and development and the demonstration and commercialization of cybersecurity technology in accordance with the agreement between the Government of the United States and the Government of Israel.
I cannot think of two more important steps that are being made. I hope this legislation will pass before this Congress ends because, if there is any threat that is great to this Nation, it is the unintended impact of cybersecurity.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. LANGEVIN. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 15 seconds.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. I thank the gentleman.
Mr. Speaker, in the backdrop of seeing technology impact the recent election, I think that we clearly know that we have to be studious, that we have to be thorough, and that we have to make sure that systems work and that systems are protected.
I ask my colleagues to support the underlying bill and also H.R. 5843.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5843, United States-Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation Enhancement Act, because it will establish a pilot cybersecurity research program between our nation and our strongest friends in the region for the purpose of strengthening cybersecurity.
I support this bill because the bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a grant program to support cybersecurity research and development, and the demonstration and commercialization of cybersecurity technology, in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the State of Israel on Cooperation in Science and Technology for Homeland Security Matters.
This bill will codifies and makes available funding for an existing mutual cooperation agreement between the United States and Israel on matters related to cybersecurity.
Grants provided under this bill may be awarded for social science research and technology intended to identify, protect against, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats.
To be eligible for a grant, a project must be a joint venture between:
(1) for-profit, nonprofit, or academic entities including U.S. national laboratories in the United States and Israel; or
(2) the governments of the United States and Israel.
Grants shall be awarded only for projects considered unclassified by both the United States and Israel.
Under the terms of this bill DHS must require cost sharing of at least 50% from nonfederal sources for grant activities, but it may reduce the nonfederal percentage if necessary on a case-by-case basis.
DHS will also establish an advisory board to monitor the impartial scientific and technical merit method by which grants are awarded and provide periodic reviews of the actions taken to carry out the program.
The grant program terminates seven years after this bill's enactment.
The Science and Technology Homeland Security International Cooperative Programs Office will produce a report every five years by the Science and Technology must contain:
(1) a status update on the progress of such international cooperative activities identified in the previous reporting period; and
(2) a discussion of obstacles encountered in forming, executing, or implementing agreements for such activities.
As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security since its establishment, and current Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security this bill is of importance to me.
I introduced H.R. 85, the Terrorism Prevention and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2015 out of well-founded concerns regarding the security of critical infrastructure of our nation from terrorists attack.
H.R. 85, directs the Secretary DHS to:
(1) work with critical infrastructure owners and operators and state, local, tribal, and territorial entities to take proactive steps to manage risk and strengthen the security and resilience of the nation's critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks;
(2) establish terrorism prevention policy to engage with international partners to strengthen the security and resilience of domestic critical infrastructure and critical infrastructure located outside of the United States;
(4) establish the Strategic Research Imperatives Program to lead DHS's federal civilian agency approach to strengthen critical infrastructure security and resilience; and
(5) make available research findings and guidance to federal civilian agencies for the identification, prioritization, assessment, remediation, and security of their internal critical infrastructure to assist in the prevention, mediation, and recovery from terrorism events.
H.R. 85, also directs the Secretary of DHS to: (1) appoint a research working group that shall study how best to achieve national unity of effort to protect against terrorism threats and investigate the security and resilience of the nation's information assurance components that provide such protection; and (2) establish a research program to provide strategic guidance, promote a national unity of effort, and coordinate the overall federal effort to promote the security and resilience of the nation's critical infrastructure from terrorist threats.
As we have worked to define and support the mission of the Department of Homeland Security we have worked to keep the efforts of the agency focused not only on the threats we have faced, but also the new ones that may come.
Collaborative agreements that can bolster the ability of DHS to be able to effectively respond to cyber threats is in the best interest of the United States.
It is the responsibility of Congress not only to provide DHS with new guidelines, but also to provide the agency with the funding it needs to do the work of protecting this great nation.
For several Congresses DHS has faced a government shutdown and sequestration that has depleted its resources and stranded its efforts to do all of the work members of this body demands.
As I urge my colleagues to support this bill, I also remind them that the passage of new laws that require more of the agency should also mean that we should require more of ourselves as members of Congress.
We should support the work of the men and women of DHS as they stand to defend this nation from all threats including those that come from cyberspace.
I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5843.
Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
This bill will meaningfully improve our homeland security professionals' ability to manage cybersecurity risk. It will do so in a way that also increases the capacity of our Israeli allies to operate securely despite the many and varied threats they face on a daily basis.
Again, I thank Mr. Ratcliffe for his leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor. It was a pleasure to travel with him to Israel on this factfinding mission, and we both learned a great deal.
I also thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson, as well as Ranking Member Richmond of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies, for their assistance in support of this. I also, of course, thank the staffs on both the Homeland Security Committee, Mr. Ratcliffe's personal staff, and my personal staff for their hard work in bringing this to the floor. We could not do what we do without their invaluable assistance and due diligence. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank Congressman Langevin, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5877.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ratcliffe) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5877, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________
