Issues in Homeland Security Policy for the 113th Congress William L. Painter Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy September 23, 2013 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R42985 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Issues in Homeland Security Policy for the 113th Congress Summary With the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), many observers have made a fresh assessment of where America’s homeland security enterprise stands today. 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. The definition of homeland security remains unsettled, and questions about the effectiveness and efficiency of the department have been raised since it was first proposed. 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. This report outlines an array of homeland security issues that may come before the 113th Congress. After a brief discussion of the overall homeland security budget, the report divides the specific issues into five broad categories: • Counterterrorism and Security Management, • Border Security and Trade, • Immigration, • Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, and • Departmental Management. Each of those areas contains a survey of topics briefly analyzed by Congressional Research Service experts. The information included only scratches the surface on most of these issues. More detailed information can be obtained by consulting the CRS reports referenced herein, or by contacting the relevant CRS expert. Congressional Research Service Issues in Homeland Security Policy for the 113th Congress Contents What Is Homeland Security? ........................................................................................................... 1 Homeland Security: Definitions and Security ........................................................................... 2 The Budget and Security ........................................................................................................... 3 DHS Appropriations ............................................................................................................ 4 Counterterrorism and Security Management ................................................................................... 5 The Transnational Trend of Terrorism ....................................................................................... 5 Homegrown Jihadist Terrorism ................................................................................................. 7 Cybersecurity ........................................................................................................................... 10 Cyber Threats .................................................................................................................... 11 Legislative Branch Efforts to Address Cyber Threats ....................................................... 13 Executive Branch Actions to Address Cyber Threats ........................................................ 13 Medical Countermeasures to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Terrorism .............................................................................................................................. 14 BioWatch: Detection of Aerosol Release of Biological Agents .............................................. 15 Continuity of Government Operations .................................................................................... 17 Federal Facility Security: Federal Protective Service ............................................................. 18 Food Defense ........................................................................................................................... 19 Security of Pipelines ................................................................................................................ 20 Security of Chemical Facilities................................................................................................ 22 Security of Wastewater and Water Utilities ............................................................................. 24 Transit Security .............................................................................................................................. 25 Border Security and Trade ............................................................................................................. 28 Southwest Border Issues .......................................................................................................... 28 Spillover Violence ............................................................................................................. 28 Illicit Proceeds and the Southwest Border ........................................................................ 30 Cross-Border Smuggling Tunnels ..................................................................................... 31 Cargo Security ......................................................................................................................... 32 Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) ................................................. 33 100% Scanning Requirement ............................................................................................ 34 Port of Entry (POE) Infrastructure and Personnel ............................................................. 36 Domestic Nuclear Detection .................................................................................................... 37 Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) ....................................................... 38 Aviation Security ..................................................................................................................... 40 Explosives Screening Strategy for the Aviation Domain .................................................. 40 Risk-Based Passenger Screening ...................................................................................... 42 The Use of Terrorist Watchlists in the Aviation Domain ................................................... 43 Mitigating the Threat of Shoulder-Fired Missiles to Civilian Aircraft .............................. 44 Security Issues Regarding the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft ...................................... 45 Immigration ................................................................................................................................... 47 Immigration Inspections at Ports of Entry ............................................................................... 47 Entry-Exit System ................................................................................................................... 49 Enforcement Between Ports of Entry ...................................................................................... 51 CBP Integrity ........................................................................................................................... 53 Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery ........................................................................... 54 Disaster Assistance Funding .................................................................................................... 54 Congressional Research Service Issues in Homeland Security Policy for the 113th Congress Hurricane Sandy Recovery ...................................................................................................... 56 DHS State and Local Preparedness Grants .............................................................................. 58 Consolidation of DHS State and Local Programs ............................................................. 59 Firefighter Assistance Programs .............................................................................................. 60 Emergency Communications Infrastructure and Technology .................................................. 61 Presidential Policy Directive 8 and the National Preparedness System .................................. 62 Public Health and Medical Services ........................................................................................ 63 Potential Reauthorization of the Defense Production Act of 1950 .......................................... 64 Management Issues at DHS ........................................................................................................... 66 DHS Reorganization Authority ............................................................................................... 66 The Management Budget ........................................................................................................ 67 DHS Financial Management Reforms .............................................................................. 68 Headquarters Consolidation .............................................................................................. 70 Department of Homeland Security Personnel Issues............................................................... 71 Recruitment and Hiring of Highly Qualified Candidates .................................................. 71 Diversity of the Workforce ................................................................................................ 73 Employee Morale .............................................................................................................