The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security was published in the in the Senate section section on pages S4912-S4913 on Sept. 21.
The Department was built out of more than 20 agencies in 2002. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lower taxes and boosting federal efficiency, argued the Department is burdened with "unneeded bureaucracy" which could be handled by other departments or standalone operations.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
The following bills and joint resolutions were introduced, read the first and second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated:
By Mr. PORTMAN (for himself and Ms. Baldwin):
S. 4902. A bill to address the preference for United States industry with respect to patent rights in inventions made with Department of Homeland Security research assistance, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
By Mrs. MURRAY:
S. 4903. A bill to reauthorize the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act to promote the protection of the resources of the Northwest Straits, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mr. BARRASSO (for himself and Mr. Manchin):
S. 4904. A bill to address the forest health crisis on the National Forest System and public lands, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
By Mr. KING:
S. 4905. A bill to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage to provide for 3 primary care visits and 3 behavioral health care visits without application of any cost-sharing requirement; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. MURPHY (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mr.
Cassidy):
S. 4906. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. CRUZ:
S. 4907. A bill to condition civil and military assistance to the Government of Colombia on certain recurring certifications from the Secretary of State; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
By Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mr. Cassidy):
S. 4908. A bill to improve the visibility, accountability, and oversight of agency software asset management practices, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
By Mrs. MURRAY:
S. 4909. A bill to increase authorizations for the passenger ferry competitive grant program and the ferry boats and terminal facilities formula grant program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
By Mr. LANKFORD:
S. 4910. A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to require the Office of Personnel Management to annually collect data relating to the Federal workforce, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
By Mr. LANKFORD:
S. 4911. A bill to provide for noncompetitive appointments in the competitive service for high-performing Federal employees; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
By Mr. HAWLEY:
S. 4912. A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to repay a portion of student law default, to make student loan debts dischargeable in bankruptcy, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
By Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mr. Portman):
S. 4913. A bill to establish the duties of the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency regarding open source software security, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
By Mr. MARSHALL (for himself and Mr. Scott of Florida):
S. 4914. A bill to direct the Secretary of State to designate certain Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and to submit a report to Congress justifying such designations in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
By Mr. BARRASSO (for himself, Mr. Thune, Ms. Lummis,
Mr. Rounds, Mr. Daines, and Mr. Hoeven):
S. 4915. A bill to amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to improve the recruitment and retention of employees in the Indian Health Service, restore accountability in the Indian Health Service, improve health services, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
By Mr. LEAHY:
S. 4916. A bill to reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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