Does Homeland Security Need a Program Focused on Deterring WMD Attacks on Cities? (H.R. 655)

What is H.R. 655?

(Updated September 9, 2018)

This bill would establish within the Dept. of Homeland Security the Securing the Cities program which would improve the detection and prevention of terrorist attacks or other events that use nuclear or radiological material in high-risk urban areas.

The Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection would be required to establish the Securing the Cities program, and would:

• Assist state and local governments in designing and implementing, or enhancing existing, systems for coordinated and integrated detection and interdiction of nuclear or radiological materials that are out of regulatory control;

• Support the development of a region-wide operating capability to detect and report on nuclear and other radioactive materials out of operational control;

• Provide resources to enhance detection, analysis, communication, and coordination to better integrate state and local assets into federal operations;

• Facilitate alarm decisions and provide technical assistance and expertise on operational concepts, training, exercises, and alarm response protocols;

• Promote the sharing of information about the presence or detection of nuclear or other radiological materials among federal, state, and local governments in a transparent manner;

• Designate participating jurisdictions among high-risk urban areas and other cities and regions as appropriate, and notify Congress at least three days before designating or changing such jurisdictions.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) would compile and submit an assessment that evaluates the effectiveness of the program.

Argument in favor

There needs to be more coordination between Homeland Security and lower levels of government on the detection and prevention of attacks using nuclear materials. This bill would improve on the status quo, and is relatively inexpensive.

Argument opposed

Existing programs within Homeland Security and those by state and local governments are sufficient to detect and prevent terror attacks with nuclear materials, and coordination between government agencies is already adequate.

Impact

State and local governments, DHS, GAO, and the Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection.

Cost of H.R. 655

The CBO estimated that implementing this legislation during the last Congress would cost less than $500,000.

Additional Info

In-Depth: In an op-ed appearing in the New York Post when he introduced this legislation during the last session of Congress, sponsoring Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) noted that funding challenges remain despite constantly evolving security threats in urban areas: 

“To be sure, methods to harm the homeland have evolved. But the basic nature of the threat remains: There are people who wish to kill Americans and will themselves to die to accomplish their objective. In fact, the NYPD, working with federal partners has prevented 16 known terror plots since 9/11. Yet, with each passing year, arguments to defund critical security programs gain supporters.

Alarmingly, funding is slowly decreasing for New York City under the “Securing the Cities” program, which helps first responders detect nuclear materials and prevent attacks. The initiative deploys radiation-detection capabilities to the region’s law-enforcement agencies to identify illicit radiological materials that could be used for an attack.”

This legislation passed the House on a voice vote during the 114th Congress, but didn't advance to the Senate.

Media:

• House Homeland Security Committee Press Release (Previous Version)
• CBO Cost Estimate (Previous Version)
• New York Post (Op-Ed In Favor)