Yvette Clarke: “Men and women that risk their positions and paychecks to make their workplace, their communities, and the Nation more…”

“Men and women that risk their positions and paychecks to make their workplace, their communities, and the Nation more secure deserve access to meaningful whistleblower protections. Should H.R. 4007 be approved today, I would put whistleblower protections high on the to-do list for the Senate. Then there is the matter of the statutory exemptions barring DHS from regulatory water, wastewater, and other critical infrastructure chemical facilities. The bill perpetuates the exemption without consideration of the arguments that former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff and others have made about the risks. Encouragingly, the committee accepted the amendment offered by Ranking Member Thompson to require an independent study of the terrorism vulnerabilities associated with the limited authority granted to DHS and the exemption on water and wastewater facilities. The results of that study will be important to inform Congress when the CFATS is up for reauthorization in 3 years. Overall, I would say that, through the committee process, the bill has been improved. Is there more work to be done? Certainly--that is why I am profoundly disappointed that H.R. 4007 is being considered on suspension. Many Members of this body that do not have the privilege to sit on the Homeland Security Committee have concerns about the vital, critical infrastructure program that affects their districts, towns, and neighborhoods.”