Securing the Cities Improvement Act
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Would improve the Department of Homeland Security's Securing the Cities program, which works to detect nuclear and radiological materials near major U.S. cities to prevent terrorist attacks, by requiring performance metrics, broadening program eligibility, and mandating a congressional report within two years.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make three substantive changes to the Securing the Cities (STC) program, which aims to prevent nuclear or radiological terrorist attacks in U.S. cities. First, it would require DHS's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD) to establish formal performance metrics and milestones and track the program's results against them. Second, it would replace the current eligibility rule — which limits the program to cities already designated as high-risk urban areas by FEMA under a separate program — with a new standard allowing CWMD itself to designate partner jurisdictions based on their preparedness capacity, threat level, vulnerability, and the potential consequences of a nuclear or radiological attack.
Third, the bill would require CWMD to submit a report to the House and Senate Homeland Security committees within two years of enactment, covering program participation, metrics, performance results, and any planned changes. The bill does not change the program's core mission or its funding structure.
Key provisions
- 1Would require CWMD to establish performance metrics and milestones for the STC program and track performance against them, replacing a prior provision.
- 2Would replace FEMA high-risk urban area designations as the eligibility standard with CWMD's own designations based on jurisdiction capacity, threat, vulnerability, and consequences.
- 3Would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress within two years covering STC participation, metrics, performance, and planned changes.
Who would be affected
The DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, which administers the program; state and local governments and jurisdictions that currently participate in or seek to join the Securing the Cities program; and Congress, which would receive a new oversight report. Cities that are not currently FEMA-designated high-risk urban areas could become newly eligible under the broadened designation criteria.
Why it matters
Under current law, only FEMA-designated high-risk urban areas may partner with the STC program, tying CWMD's hands to another agency's eligibility decisions. This bill would let CWMD independently assess which jurisdictions face the greatest nuclear and radiological threats. The new metrics and reporting requirements would also give Congress its first structured view of whether the program is actually working.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 596b) (Sec. 2)
Revises STC program eligibility from FEMA-designated high-risk urban areas to CWMD-designated jurisdictions; adds performance metrics requirement; replaces reporting provision.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Deadline for Secretary to submit congressional report on STC program metrics and performance
How implementation would work
CWMD would need to develop and publish performance metrics and milestones for the STC program, begin tracking expenditures and results against them, and apply a new multi-factor risk assessment when designating eligible partner jurisdictions. Within two years of enactment, the Secretary of Homeland Security must deliver a written report to the House and Senate Homeland Security committees covering participation, metrics, performance results, and future program changes. The bill makes no provision for rulemaking, but the revised designation standard would require CWMD to build or adapt an internal assessment process.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Official CRS summary
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This bill makes changes to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office's (CWMD's) Securing the Cities program, which seeks to detect nuclear or radiological materials to prevent terrorist attacks and other events posing a risk to cities in the United States.
Specifically, the bill requires the CWMD to establish performance metrics and milestones for the program and to track performance against them.
Also, under current law, in carrying out the Securing the Cities program, the CWMD may only partner with cities that are high-risk urban areas, which are designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under a different program. Instead, the bill requires the CWMD to designate the jurisdictions it may partner with for the program, and the designations must be based on the capability and capacity of the jurisdiction relating to preparedness and response, as well as the relative threat to, vulnerability of, and consequences for, such jurisdiction regarding terrorist attacks and other high-consequence events utilizing nuclear or radiological materials.
Additionally, within two years of enactment of the bill, the CWMD must submit a report to Congress regarding participation in the Securing the Cities program, the establishment of metrics and milestones, performance against such metrics and milestones, and plans for any changes to the program.
Legislative subjects
Congressional oversight; Department of Homeland Security; Emergency Management; Homeland security; Nuclear weapons; Performance measurement; Terrorism