WASHINGTON D.C. — This week, the House Committee on Homeland Security advanced legislation with bipartisan support to preserve essential tools for our nation’s cybersecurity posture, combat public safety threats, strengthen DHS’s counterterrorism mission, bolster intelligence sharing, and defend our critical infrastructure. 

Legislation advanced out of the Committee includes:

• H.R. 5079, the “Widespread Information Management for the Welfare of Infrastructure and Government Act” (WIMWIG Act), introduced by Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY)
• H.R. 5078, the “Protecting Information by Local Leaders for Agency Resilience Act” (PILLAR Act), introduced by Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN)
• H.R. 1736, the “Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act,” introduced by Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX)
• H.R. 2259, the “National Strategy for School Security Act,” introduced by Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX)
• H.R. 2212, the “DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program and Law Enforcement Support Act,” introduced by Representative Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA)
• H.R. 2261, the “Strengthening Oversight of DHS Intelligence Act,” introduced by Resident Commissioner Pablo Hernández (D-PR-At Large)
• H.R. 5602, the “Pipeline Security Act,” introduced by Representative Julie Johnson (D-TX)
   

Read Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino’s (R-NY) statement following markup here. Read statements of support from stakeholders here.
 
Read highlights from the markup below:

Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) delivered remarks on his bill, H.R. 5079, the “Widespread Information Management for the Welfare of Infrastructure and Government Act” (WIMWIG Act):

“The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA 2015) changed the cybersecurity landscape forever and for the better. This vital authority created a privacy-protecting framework for real-time cyber threat information sharing. Indeed, the protections [this law] provides to the private sector have encouraged proactive information sharing to get ahead of cyber threats. It also improved the collaboration of our public and private sectors, leading to a more comprehensive threat picture. As a bedrock of the cybersecurity ecosystem, a lapse in ‘CISA 2015’ would significantly slow down or even halt the information sharing of our cyber defenders that they depend on. We cannot let this happen… That’s why we are kicking off our first markup with this bill, the Widespread Information Management of the Welfare of Infrastructure and Government Act, WIMWIG, the reauthorization bill for ‘CISA 2015’… America faces a rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape with nation-state actors and criminals growing increasingly sophisticated by the day. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on the WIMWIG Act to sustain the trust built among the cybersecurity ecosystem and to strengthen our cybersecurity posture.”
 
Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN) delivered remarks on his bill, H.R. 5078, the “Protecting Information by Local Leaders for Agency Resilience Act” (PILLAR Act):

“Our state and local governments don’t only need to guard against cyber criminals, but against nation-state actors who will target our critical networks, especially in small and rural communities. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the PILLAR Act, which reauthorizes the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program at DHS. This program provides federal resources to our frontline entities responsible for protecting essential public services. It also gives our local governments the certainty that they need to plan ahead. State and local governments handle everything from residents’ personal data to the controls of our power, water, and emergency services. Many, especially smaller or rural communities, lack the staff and technology to defend against cyberattacks, making them prime targets for ransomware, data breaches, and service-disrupting attacks… As threats evolve, we cannot afford to leave any local government unprepared. This bill makes clear that every community, big or small, needs the tools to defend itself.”
 
Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) delivered remarks on his bill, H.R. 1736, the “Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act”:

“Earlier this year, the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence held a hearing to examine how foreign terrorist organizations use generative AI, or GenAI, to recruit and radicalize lone-wolf actors on the internet. The subcommittee found that FTOs used GenAI for online radicalization by producing highly convincing propaganda videos to fabricate events and to manipulate the perception of potential recruits. Known terrorist organizations like ISIS or Al Qaeda, and others, have gone so far as to have AI workshops to train members on its use. This legislation would require DHS to conduct annual assessments on the terrorism threats posed to the United States by terrorist organizations utilizing or attempting to utilize generative artificial intelligence applications. This bill is crucial right now to respond to the emerging threats of tomorrow.”
 
Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX) delivered remarks on his bill, H.R. 2259, the “National Strategy for School Security Act:

“Three years ago, the devastating school shooting took place at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, in my district, resulting in 19 students killed and two teachers with many injuries. Regrettably, we continue to see similar tragedies take place across the country, including the high school in Georgia and including, most recently, the Catholic school in Minneapolis––taking the lives of two children and injuring 17 others. The consensus across federal reports and findings is the lack of coordination at the federal level is a major shortcoming in our school security posture. It’s simple, the U.S. government has no strategy. We cannot defeat evil if we do not have a strategy. My bill would implement those findings by requiring better federal coordination by establishing a national strategy to keep elementary and secondary schools, especially our schools in rural and underserved areas, secure and prepared from school shootings and other acts of terrorism. From this, our school districts––both large and small––can develop and improve their own emergency plans to keep our kids safe. We must work to implement policies that will better protect our children and provide a proper framework that can make a real difference.”
 
Representative Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) delivered remarks on his bill, H.R. 2212, the “DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program”:

“This legislation requires analysts in the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, INA, to participate in the intelligence community’s Civilian Joint Duty Program administered by the Office of the Director of National intelligence. The intelligence community’s Civilian Joint Duty Program, also called the Rotational Assignment Program, allows intelligence professionals to serve temporary rotations in other intelligence agencies, strengthening interagency understanding, integration, and cooperation. Currently, INA analysts are not eligible to participate in this program. My bill would address this issue to promote greater workforce development in the intelligence community and ensure comprehensive intelligence sharing across our agencies, including Homeland Security. At a time of growing threats to our nation, it’s critical that Homeland Security intelligence professionals have access to the resources and experience needed to counter terrorism and other homeland security challenges.”
 

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