Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Subcommittee Ranking Member Pete King (R-N.Y.) introduced H.R. 3907 the Department of Homeland Security Insider Threat and Mitigation Act of 2019, Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations Subcommittee Ranking Member Clay Higgins (R-La.) introduced H.R. 3719 the CTPAT Reauthorization Act of 2019, and Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.) introduced H.R. 3990 the Operation Stonegarden Authorization Act.

“The Insider Threat Program, CTPAT, and Operation Stonegarden are critical programs for protecting DHS facilities and its workforce, securing our international supply chain and providing critical grant funding to our partner law enforcement agencies,” Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) said. “Each of these bills advances our goal of ensuring that DHS has what it needs to prepare for new threats to the Homeland. I thank Reps. King, Higgins, and Guest for introducing these important bills.”

“It is vital for the Department of Homeland Security to have a robust insider threat program covering all component agencies to ensure the protection of classified materials and a safe workplace,” King said. “I applaud the work DHS has done in the past few years to build out their program. Authorizing the program will ensure the program continues to mature and remains in place during future administrations.”

“Reauthorizing the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program allows CBP and private industry partners to better address new and evolving security threats impacting the international supply chain,” Higgins said. “The reforms in our legislation ensure efficient trade and provide CBP with greater authority to enforce the program’s security criteria.”

“Our law enforcement agents risk their lives to keep our communities safe,” Guest said. “As a nation, it’s imperative that we provide the men and women of law enforcement with the proper equipment to perform their duties. Operation Stonegarden will provide necessary resources to agencies tasked with protecting the borders of the United States. In 2017, 91 percent of heroin, 93 percent of the cocaine, and up to 97 percent of methamphetamine were manufactured in South American countries. I believe these resources could be used to help keep these illicit narcotics out of our communities by providing additional resources for border patrol law enforcement agencies.”

H.R. 3907 authorizes DHS’ Insider Threat program to secure DHS facilities and its workforce by creating a multidisciplinary steering committee and developing a strategy to identify, prevent, mitigate and respond to insider threats to its critical assets.

H.R. 3719 updates Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) flagship international supply chain security program, reauthorizing the program for the first time in more than 13 years.

H.R. 3990 authorizes DHS’ Operation Stonegarden grant program, providing grant funding to local law enforcement agencies involved in CBP operations.

Background: The American Security Agenda is a comprehensive legislative effort from Homeland Security Republicans to combat new and evolving threats to our homeland. The agenda is grounded on three pillars: granting DHS the authority it needs to stay ahead of emerging threats; providing DHS and its state, local, and private sector partners with the resources they need to build and maintain a robust capacity to deter acts of terrorism; and reforming DHS structure and management to ensure it properly positioned to combat the constantly evolving threat to the homeland.

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