The publication is reproduced in full below:
DHS BASIC TRAINING ACCREDITATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2021
Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5616) to require reporting regarding accreditation of basic training programs of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5616
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``DHS Basic Training Accreditation Improvement Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. REPORTING ON BASIC TRAINING PROGRAMS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
(a) Annual Reporting.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall report to the relevant congressional committees on the accreditation status for each basic training program within the Department of Homeland Security, including information relating to the following:
(A) The date on which each such program achieved initial accreditation, or in the case of a program that is not currently accredited, the reasons for not obtaining or maintaining accreditation, the activities, if any, taken to achieve accreditation, and an anticipated timeline for accreditation of such program.
(B) The date each such program most recently received accreditation or reaccreditation, if applicable.
(C) Each such program's anticipated accreditation or next reaccreditation date.
(D) The name of the accreditation manager for each such program.
(2) Termination of reporting requirement.--Annual reports under paragraph (1) shall terminate when all basic training programs of the Department of Homeland Security are accredited.
(b) Lapse in Accreditation.--
(1) In general.--If a basic training program of the Department of Homeland Security loses accreditation, the head of the relevant component of the Department shall notify the Secretary of Homeland Security not later than 30 days after such loss.
(2) Notice to congress.--Not later than 30 days after receiving a notification pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall notify the relevant congressional committees of the lapse in accreditation at issue, the reason for such lapse, and the activities underway and planned to regain accreditation.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Accreditation.--The term ``accreditation'' means the recognition by a board that a basic training program is administered, developed, and delivered according to an applicable set of standards.
(2) Accreditation manager.--The term ``accreditation manager'' means the individual assigned by the component of the Department of Homeland Security to manage accreditation activities for a basic training program.
(3) Basic training program.--The term ``basic training program'' means an entry level program of the Department of Homeland Security that is transitional to law enforcement service, provides training on critical competencies and responsibilities, and is typically a requirement for appointment to a law enforcement service job or job series.
(4) Reaccreditation.--The term ``reaccreditation'' means the assessment of a basic training program after initial accreditation to ensure the continued compliance with an applicable set of standards.
(5) Relevant congressional committees.--The term ``relevant congressional committees'' means the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee of the Judiciary of the Senate.
SEC. 3. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
The Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security shall carry out research and development of systems and technologies to enhance access to training offered by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers to State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement, with particular attention to law enforcement in rural and remote communities, for the purpose of enhancing domestic preparedness for and collective response to terrorism and other homeland security threats.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Demings) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.
General Leave
Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, today, I rise to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5616, the DHS Basic Training Accreditation Improvement Act of 2021.
Every year, DHS onboards thousands of new officers who all must successfully complete basic law enforcement training programs.
As a former police chief with 27 years of law enforcement service, I have seen how training saves lives.
Unfortunately, at DHS, several of the basic training programs tailored to component officers are not accredited.
In some cases, programs have been unaccredited for several years.
Unaccredited programs include: the U.S. Border Patrol Academy, the Customs and Border Protections' Field Operations Academy Officer Basic Training program, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' Officer Basic Training program.
In 2019, the head of the Department's Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers testified before the Homeland Security Committee that accreditation is important because it ``assigns rigor to training processes'' and ``results in the best product.''
H.R. 5616 seeks to improve the quality of the training provided to all new DHS officers.
It does this by requiring the Department to report to Congress on the accreditation status of each of its basic training programs.
For those programs that are not accredited, it requires DHS to report: the reasons for not obtaining or maintaining accreditation; the activities, if any, taken to achieve accreditation; and the anticipated timeline for accreditation of the program.
Further, H.R. 5616 requires DHS to continue to report to Congress annually until all DHS basic training programs are accredited.
H.R. 5616 also directs DHS to engage in research to help State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement officers better access the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center training opportunities, including those that enhance national preparedness and response to terrorism.
I introduced this bill in October to direct DHS to prioritize improving its basic training programs to maintain a higher standard of excellence for new officers and position them to effectively safeguard the American people, our homeland, and institutions.
Madam Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on the Judiciary,
Washington, DC, February 7, 2022.
Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Thompson: This letter is to advise you that the Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to review the provisions in H.R. 5616, the ``DHS Basic Training Accreditation Improvement Act of 2021,'' that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. I appreciate your consulting with us on those provisions. The Judiciary Committee has no objection to your including them in the bill for consideration on the House floor, and to expedite that consideration is willing to forgo action on H.R. 5616, with the understanding that we do not thereby waive any future jurisdictional claim over those provisions or their subject matters.
In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the right to request an appropriate number of conferees to address any concerns with these or similar provisions that may arise in conference.
Please place this letter into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this matter and others between our committees.
Sincerely,
Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Homeland Security,
Washington, DC, February 7, 2022.
Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Nadler: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 5616, the ``DHS Basic Training Accreditation Improvement Act of 2021.'' I recognize that the Committee on the Judiciary has a jurisdictional interest in H.R. 5616, and I appreciate your effort to allow this bill to be considered on the House floor.
I concur with you that forgoing action on the bill does not in any way prejudice the Committee on the Judiciary with respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the future, and I would support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House--Senate conference involving this legislation.
I will include our letters on H.R. 5616 in the Committee report on this measure and in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill. I look forward to working with you on this legislation and other matters of great importance to this Nation.
Sincerely,
Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security.
Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5616, the DHS Basic Training Accreditation Improvement Act of 2021.
This legislation requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress on an annual basis on the accreditation status for each basic training program within the Department. It also requires congressional notification within 30 days of a lapse of accreditation for any Department basic training program.
This legislation will help bring needed congressional oversight to DHS basic training programs by ensuring that DHS is transparent about any accreditation shortcomings and properly addresses them.
Madam Speaker, I urge members to join me in supporting H.R. 5616, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I urge Members to support this bill, I think it is a good bill, and I commend my friend for bringing it to the floor.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, our top priority, as Members of Congress, is protecting the safety and security of the American people.
We have no room for error when it comes to keeping Americans safe.
H.R. 5616 prioritizes the quality of training DHS offers its newest officers and ensures that State, local, and Tribal law enforcement entities have better access to trainings that will make American communities safer.
I thank my colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee for unanimously supporting H.R. 5616.
Madam Speaker, I urge the rest of my colleagues to support H.R. 5616, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Demings) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5616, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mrs. GREENE of Georgia. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion are postponed.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 40
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