Overview
Title
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security to research and develop approaches to mitigate identified or potential negative effects of climate change on homeland security, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H. R. 2674 is a plan to help the Department of Homeland Security figure out how to protect people from the bad things that climate change might cause, like big storms, by working with other groups and telling Congress what they find out each year.
Summary AI
H. R. 2674 aims to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security's Under Secretary for Science and Technology to research ways to lessen the negative effects of climate change on homeland security. It will involve evaluating current federal research and potentially conducting new research, focusing especially on problems that affect emergency responses and preparedness for natural disasters. The Under Secretary is required to collaborate with other federal agencies, local governments, and infrastructure operators as needed. Additionally, the bill obligates the Under Secretary to report annually on these research activities to Congress for three years after enactment.
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AnalysisAI
Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, known as the "Department of Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act," is an amendment to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Its primary objective is to direct the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security to actively engage in research and development activities aimed at mitigating the negative effects of climate change that could impact homeland security. It highlights the need for evaluating existing Federal research, taking into account climate change impacts on preparedness and emergency planning, and ensuring appropriate Federal funding structures for disaster responses. The bill also emphasizes the importance of consultation and collaboration with various government bodies and infrastructure operators.
Significant Issues
One of the key issues with the bill is the dependency on the availability of appropriations for conducting research and development. This reliance on unspecified and potentially uncertain funding could hinder the effectiveness and timeliness of the initiatives outlined in the bill. Additionally, the language granting the Under Secretary the discretion to determine "such other matters as appropriate" is quite broad, raising concerns about focus and potential overreach. Furthermore, the requirement for consultation "as appropriate" may lead to inconsistent engagement with other agencies and stakeholders, potentially affecting the comprehensiveness of the strategies developed. Lastly, the bill lacks explicit mechanisms for evaluating the effectiveness of the research efforts, potentially leading to resource inefficiencies.
Impact on the Public
The successful implementation of this bill could have significant implications for public safety and national preparedness. Given the increasing frequency and severity of climate-induced disasters, researching ways to mitigate these effects on homeland security is crucial. However, the uncertainty in funding and the potential lack of coordinated research efforts could hinder timely and effective responses to climate challenges. This uncertainty could result in the public experiencing delayed or insufficient measures to protect infrastructure and ensure safety during climate-related emergencies.
Impact on Stakeholders
For federal agencies and departments, the bill presents both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, it encourages collaboration and may lead to more comprehensive and unified strategies to address climate change impacts on homeland security. On the other hand, the vague directives and potential funding limitations could create challenges in executing focused and efficient projects.
State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, as well as private sector operators of critical infrastructure, might experience issues with integration and coordination, given the non-specific nature of the consultation requirements. However, if effectively engaged, these stakeholders would benefit from enhanced resources and strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on essential services and infrastructure.
In summary, while the bill sets a foundational framework for addressing climate change impacts on homeland security, the broad language and funding uncertainties represent notable challenges that could affect its overall efficacy.
Issues
The requirement that research and development is 'subject to the availability of appropriations' in Section 2 may lead to significant uncertainty in funding, potentially resulting in inefficiencies or delays in achieving the bill's objectives. This uncertainty may be significant for the general public as it affects the readiness to address climate change impacts on homeland security.
The broad language 'such other matters as the Under Secretary determines appropriate' in Section 2 gives wide discretion that could lead to a lack of focus or unauthorized expansion of scope, raising both legal and financial concerns.
The definition of 'climate change' in Section 2, subsection (d), which refers to 'detectable changes in one or more climate system components,' might be too narrow and does not clearly encompass other environmental changes or phenomena, potentially limiting the comprehensiveness of the research scope.
The lack of specification for mechanisms to evaluate the effectiveness of the research and development activities in Section 2 could lead to unaccountable or ineffective use of resources, which raises financial and political accountability concerns.
The use of 'as appropriate' in the consultation and coordination requirements of Section 2 could lead to inconsistent collaboration efforts with relevant Federal agencies and other stakeholders, affecting the comprehensive development and implementation of effective mitigation strategies against climate change impacts.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this Act specifies its name, which is "Department of Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act."
2. Climate change research and development Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The proposed section of the Homeland Security Act focuses on research and development to address climate change's negative impacts on homeland security. It requires the Under Secretary for Science and Technology to evaluate current research, potentially conduct further research, and consult with various agencies and governments, while providing annual reports to Congress on these activities for three years.
324. Climate change research and development Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines the responsibilities of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology in evaluating and potentially conducting research to lessen the harmful effects of climate change on homeland security. It emphasizes collaboration with various government bodies and infrastructure operators, and defines climate change as changes in the climate system due to human activity affecting the atmosphere.