Speech #1140084973

The Port of Houston is home to a $15 billion petrochemical complex. the largest in the nation and second largest in the world. With the nations largest petrochemical complex supplying over 40 percent of the nations base petrochemical manufacturing capacity. what happens at the Port of Houston affects the entire nation. At the same time. these waterways offer opportunities for terrorists and their instruments. drug smugglers. and undocumented persons to enter our country. U.S. seaports. like the Port of Houston. are vulnerable to terrorist attacks. H.R. 4482 will require the Secretary of Homeland Security to analyze and assess the southwest border threat: Terrorism and criminal threats seeking unlawful entrance to the U.S. through the southwest border or exploiting border vulnerabilities. Improvements needed in border ports to prevent the entrance of terrorism into the U.S.. Law. policy. cooperation between state. local or tribal law enforcement. international or tribal agreements that hinder effective and efficient border security. counterterrorism. antihuman smuggling and trafficking efforts and legitimate trade along the southwest border. Current percentage of situational awareness and operational control of U.S. borders achieved by DHS of international land and maritime borders of the U.S. H.R. 4482 will require the Chief of the Border Patrol to issue by March 1. 2017. and every five years after. a Border Patrol Strategic Plan: Evaluation of southwest border threat analysis. Assessment of principal border security threats. Efforts to focus intelligence collection to disrupt transnational criminal organizations outside of U.S. borders. Ensure new border security technology can be operationally integrated with existing DHS technologies. Technology required to maintain. support. and enhance security and facilitate trade at ports of entry. Cooperative agreements and information sharing with state. local. and federal law enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction on the northern and southern borders. Prioritized list of research and development objective to enhance the security of borders. Assessment of training programs for detecting fraudulent documents. understanding scope of enforcement authorities and the use of force policies. and screening. identifying. and addressing vulnerable populations. Assessment of how border security operations affect crossing times. Let me close by reminding my colleagues that earlier this year we passed the Northern Border Security Act. which secured our border with Canada. Now it is time to protect our Southern Border. therefore I urge all Members to join me in voting to pass H.R. 4482.