Ratcliffe Floor Speech on Leveraging Emerging Technologies Act

Mr. Speaker, again I'm pleased the House is today considering H.R. 240, the Leveraging Emerging Technologies Act of 2017. H.R. 240 encourages engagement between the Department of Homeland Security and technology innovators including startups. This bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to proactively engage with innovative and emerging technology developers and firms to address our vital homeland security needs. Additionally, H.R. 240 provides the Secretary with the authority to identify geographic areas in the United States where high concentration of these innovative and emerging technology developers and firms exist and to establish personnel and office space in these areas to more effectively collaborate with these technology hubs. The federal government certainly needs to do a better job working with the private sector and H.R. 240 will help to address that. Mr. Speaker, this bill also requires the Secretary to develop and to implement a targeted strategy to proactively engage innovative and emerging technology developers and firms. Under this bill, the Secretary must use the strategic plan to address existing barriers to leveraging innovative and emerging technologies and the small businesses and startup ventures that create those technologies and to incorporate them into the department's acquisition process. For example, in order to keep pace, the Department of Homeland Security has established an office in Silicon Valley to encourage engagement and communication with the innovative technology developers in that area. And although it is a vital technology hub, Silicon Valley certainly is not the only technology hub in the United States. The department should not be limited to a single geographic area from which to identify these emerging and innovative technologies. Mr. Speaker, all Americans are learning that cybersecurity is national security. The impacts of cyber intrusions are being felt everywhere from boardroom tables to kitchen tables. And we've seen them undermine consumer confidence and damage a company's hard-earned reputation in just a matter of seconds. Cybersecurity is a complex and serious issue that our country will have to address for decades to come. So it only makes sense, Mr. Speaker, for us to require the department to consider strategically just how it will engage these technology developers to strengthen the department's ability to access innovative and emerging technologies to better combat evolving cyber threats. I'm happy to support this measure today because I believe it will move us forward further addressing our homeland security needs by supporting technology innovation. So I urge all members to join me in supporting this important bill and I reserve the balance of my time.