HR-8309 : Still Just a Bill

Keep America Secure Act

This bill provides for a two-year reauthorization of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) activities for FY2021-FY2022.

Specifically, the bill sets forth provisions to address

  • management reform and accountability, including the establishment of an Office of Biometric Identity Management within the Management Directorate of DHS;
  • intelligence and information sharing, including requiring annual assessments of the terrorist threat to the homeland;
  • cybersecurity, including the establishment of a Cybersecurity Advisory Committee within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency;
  • border and visa security, including directing U.S. Customs and Border Protection to hire specified numbers of agents and authorizing an immigration advisory program to assist air carriers and security employees at foreign airports with review of traveler information during the processing of U.S.-bound flights;
  • transportation security, including requiring the Transportation Security Administration to establish a task force to analyze emerging and potential future threats and requiring DHS to prioritize the research and facilitation of next generation technologies to detect explosives in the nation's surface transportation systems;
  • emergency preparedness, response, and recovery, including modifying specified grant programs and reauthorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); and
  • pandemic preparedness, including establishing a medical countermeasures program to facilitate personnel readiness and protection for DHS employees and working animals and individuals in its care and custody, in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosives attack, naturally occurring disease outbreak, or pandemic, and to support DHS mission continuity.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2020-09-18CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.House committee actions
2020-09-17IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Reform, Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-17IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Reform, Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-17IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Reform, Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-17IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Reform, Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-17IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Reform, Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-17IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Reform, Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-17IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Reform, Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-17IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Reform, Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2020-09-17IntroReferralIntroduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Sponsor :

Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3]
See Cosponsors

Policy Area :

Emergency Management
See Subjects
  • Advisory bodies
  • Aviation and airports
  • Border security and unlawful immigration
  • Cardiovascular and respiratory health
  • Chemical and biological weapons
  • Child care and development
  • Commuting
  • Computer security and identity theft
  • Computers and information technology
  • Congressional oversight
  • Crime prevention
  • Department of Homeland Security
  • Emergency communications systems
  • Emergency medical services and trauma care
  • Emergency planning and evacuation
  • Executive agency funding and structure
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
  • Federal officials
  • Firearms and explosives
  • Fraud offenses and financial crimes
  • Genetics
  • Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
  • Government information and archives
  • Government studies and investigations
  • Health information and medical records
  • Health personnel
  • Health technology, devices, supplies
  • Homeland security
  • Immigration status and procedures
  • Infectious and parasitic diseases
  • Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
  • Internet and video services
  • Internet, web applications, social media
  • Mammals
  • Navigation, waterways, harbors
  • Nuclear weapons
  • Organized crime
  • Service animals
  • Technology assessment
  • Terrorism
  • Transportation employees
  • Transportation programs funding
  • Transportation safety and security
  • Travel and tourism
  • Urban and suburban affairs and development
  • Visas and passports
  • Worker safety and health

Related Bills

See Related Bills