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Selected Homeland Security Issues in the 115Th Congress

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Selected Homeland Security Issues in the 115Th Congress Selected Homeland Security Issues in the 115th Congress Updated May 11, 2017 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R44847 Selected Homeland Security Issues in the 115th Congress Summary In 2001, in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, “homeland security” went from being a concept discussed among a relatively small cadre of policymakers and strategic thinkers to a broadly discussed issue among policymakers, including those in Congress. Debates over how to implement coordinated homeland security policy led to the passage of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296) and the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Evolution of America’s response to terrorist threats has continued under the leadership of different Administrations, Congresses, and in a shifting environment of public opinion. DHS is currently the third-largest department in the federal government, although it does not incorporate all of the homeland security functions at the federal level, even if one constrains the definition of homeland security to the narrow field of prevention and response to domestic acts of terrorism. In policymaking terms, homeland security is a very broad and complex network of interrelated issues. For example, in its executive summary, the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review issued in 2014 delineates the missions of the homeland security enterprise as follows: prevent terrorism and enhance security; secure and manage the borders; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard and secure cyberspace; and strengthen national preparedness and resilience. This report outlines an array of homeland security issues that may come before the 115th Congress. After a brief discussion of the definitions of homeland security, the homeland security budget, and the role of homeland security actors in the intelligence community, the report divides the specific issues into five broad categories: Counterterrorism and Security Management; Border Security and Trade; Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery; Cybersecurity; and DHS Management Issues. Each of those areas contains a survey of topics briefly analyzed by Congressional Research Service experts. The information included only scratches the surface of most of these selected issues. More detailed information on these topics and others can be obtained by consulting the CRS reports referenced herein, or for congressional clients, by contacting the relevant CRS expert. Congressional Research Service Selected Homeland Security Issues in the 115th Congress Contents What Is Homeland Security? ........................................................................................................... 1 The Budget and Security ........................................................................................................... 2 DHS Appropriations ........................................................................................................... 2 Homeland Security and the U.S. Intelligence Community ....................................................... 3 Selected Intelligence Community (IC) Issues with Homeland Security Implications ..................................................................................................................... 7 Homeland Security and Research and Development ................................................................ 9 Counterterrorism and Security Management ................................................................................. 10 The Transnational Trend of Terrorism ..................................................................................... 10 Al Qaeda ............................................................................................................................ 11 The Islamic State ............................................................................................................... 11 Considerations .................................................................................................................. 12 The Islamic State in the Homeland—the Departed, Returned, and Inspired .......................... 12 Beyond the Departed, Returned, and Inspired .................................................................. 14 Preempting and Monitoring Potential Terrorists ............................................................... 14 Medical Countermeasures to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Terrorism .............................................................................................................................. 16 Chemical Facilities Security ................................................................................................... 16 Electric Grid Physical Security ............................................................................................... 17 Continuity of Government Operations .................................................................................... 19 U.S. Secret Service .................................................................................................................. 20 Federal Facility Security ......................................................................................................... 21 DHS State and Local Preparedness Grants ............................................................................. 22 Border Security and Trade ............................................................................................................. 24 Southwest Border Issues ......................................................................................................... 24 Drug Trafficking and the Southwest Border ..................................................................... 24 Illicit Proceeds and the Southwest Border ........................................................................ 25 Cross-Border Smuggling Tunnels ..................................................................................... 26 Cargo Security ......................................................................................................................... 27 Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) ................................................ 27 100% Scanning Requirement ............................................................................................ 28 Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) ....................................................... 30 Immigration Inspections at Ports of Entry (POEs) .................................................................. 32 Port of Entry (POE) Infrastructure and Personnel ............................................................ 33 Entry-Exit System ............................................................................................................. 34 Enforcement Between Ports of Entry (POEs) ......................................................................... 35 Aviation Security ..................................................................................................................... 36 Explosives Screening Strategy for the Aviation Domain .................................................. 37 Risk-Based Passenger Screening ...................................................................................... 39 The Use of Terrorist Watchlists in the Aviation Domain .................................................. 40 Perimeter Security, Access Controls, and Worker Vetting ................................................ 41 Security Incidents at Airports ............................................................................................ 42 Foreign Last Point of Departure Airports ......................................................................... 42 Mitigating the Threat of Shoulder-Fired Missiles to Civilian Aircraft ............................. 43 Security Issues Regarding the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft ...................................... 44 Transit and Passenger Rail Security ........................................................................................ 46 Congressional Research Service Selected Homeland Security Issues in the 115th Congress Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery ........................................................................... 48 Disaster Assistance Funding ................................................................................................... 48 Firefighter Assistance Programs .............................................................................................. 50 Emergency Communications .................................................................................................. 50 The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) ...................................................................... 51 NFIP Debt and Borrowing ................................................................................................ 53 Affordability and Solvency ............................................................................................... 53 The Role of Private Insurance in the NFIP ....................................................................... 54 FEMA Reauthorization ........................................................................................................... 55 National Preparedness System ................................................................................................ 56 National Health Security ........................................................................................................
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