Homeland Security committee adopts oversight plan; expands scope to racially, ethnically and religiously motivated violent extremism

The House Committee on Homeland Security adopted its authorization and oversight plan during a committee markup and approved amendments to broaden the panel's stated oversight priorities.

The plan, which the committee described as the framework guiding the panel's work this Congress, was adopted by voice vote; the chair announced, "in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it and the motion is agreed to." The committee also accepted an amendment that expanded a reference to "antisemitic" violent incidents to read "racially, ethnically, antisemitic, and religiously motivated violent extremism," and accepted a separate amendment to direct attention to the outflow of U.S.-made firearms to criminal organizations abroad.

The oversight plan sets the committee's priorities for the congressional term. Chairman Green said the plan "highlights the committee's major priorities for this Congress," naming border security, countering nation-state cyber threats, streamlining regulations to improve information sharing, and conducting structural oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Representative Seth Magaziner offered the amendment broadening the committee's focus. Magaziner said his intent was to ensure the subcommittee "examine all national security threats posed by racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism," and argued "we must ensure that all Americans are protected from violent extremism." The clerk later reported the revised amendment as inserting, in part, the phrase, "racially, ethnically, antisemitic, and religiously motivated violent extremism including."

A separate amendment offered on behalf of Representative Eric Swalwell and presented by Representative Goldman drew attention to firearms that originate in the United States and later are recovered at crime scenes abroad. Goldman said the amendment "includes the efforts to investigate and disrupt the flow of American made firearms to the international criminal cartels," and the committee agreed to that amendment as well.

Committee members debated the language and scope of the oversight plan. Some members asked for the amendment language to be further refined; the sponsor temporarily withdrew a version to rework it before resubmitting. After considering the amendment roster and taking up the listed changes, the committee adopted the oversight plan with the agreed amendments.

The adopted plan will guide the committee's authorizations and oversight for the congressional term, with the new language signaling an intent to direct subcommittee resources toward racially and religiously motivated violent extremism as well as cross-border firearms trafficking.

Looking ahead, the committee chair noted the plan can be amended as work proceeds and that the chair is authorized to recess the committee as needed.

Ending note: The clerk made printed copies of the plan available during the markup and the committee agreed to use an amendment roster to manage changes during consideration.