Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1297, the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Technical Corrections Act of 2017. Congress mandated through the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/ 11 Commission Act of 2007 that the Department of Homeland Security conduct a quadrennial Homeland Security review every 4 years. This review is intended to outline DHS' vision and strategy to effectively implement its mission to protect the homeland. Given the threats that we face from terrorists, it is vital that DHS has a sound strategy to help keep the American public safe. Last year, the Government Accountability Office reported on opportunities for DHS to improve the QHSR process, and the GAO made four recommendations for executive action. This legislation leverages GAO's findings to enhance the QHSR and make it better. Specifically, this legislation requires DHS to conduct a risk assessment to better inform the QHSR, and the bill also mandates that the DHS maintain a paper trail of communications related to the QHSR. This should allow Congress and watchdogs to conduct more effective oversight of DHS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey for introducing this legislation, and I urge all Members to join me in supporting this commonsense legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.”