Cyber Terror and Tax Reform

Congressman Michael McCaul Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. Congress remains busy at work in Washington D.C. as we wrap up the year. This week we will focus on reforming our outdated tax code helping our veterans providing Hurricane Harvey relief combating human trafficking and funding the government for Fiscal Year 2018. Below you will find some of the highlights from last week in Washington D.C. and get a preview at the week ahead. Continuing to Fight Childhood Cancer This year the Childhood Cancer Caucus worked hard to get my RACE for Children Actsigned into law to boost pediatric studies. Our previous work in the caucus includes theCreating Hope Act which was reauthorized last year and has led to significant breakthroughs in cancer treatment. This legislation helped lead to the new immunotherapy CAR-T drug that remodifies our own t-cells and puts them back in our bodies to attack our own cancer cells. Today we use chemo a WWI chemical agent but because of this bill the FDA has approved this new treatment to revolutionize the way we treat cancer making it more personal.  I was joined on FOX News by 10-year-old Sadie Keller a cancer survivor to talk about our efforts with these pieces of legislation. Click here or on the image below to watch our interview on Americas Newsroom. Port Authority Attack in Review Thanks to American leadership and a new strategy on the battlefield Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was able to declare that ISIS has been defeated in Iraq. While this is welcomed news crushing the so-called caliphate in the Middle East allows foreign fighters and sympathizers of ISIS and Al Qaeda to scatter. They are returning to their home countries looking for different ways to keep their hateful ideology alive and creating new dangers in other parts of the world. This has brought a new wave of terror attacks to the West. You can click here or on the image below to read my full op-ed on Fox News Opinion. Homeland Security Committee Update My committee held a markup on a dozen pieces of legislation to help strengthen the capacity of canines to detect explosives at our airports support non-profits through grants for new security and inspection systems conduct a review of our challenges across the global aviation system and enhance CBPs (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) ability to collaborate with federal state local tribal and international partners to improve border security operations among other things. Also my committees Task Force on Denying Terrorists Entry to the United States released their final report after conducting an extensive review to assess key pathways extremists might utilize to infiltrate the homeland. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and the administration to fully implement the Task Forces recommendations. You can click here or on the image below to read the full final report. Landmark Cybersecurity Legislation The House unanimously passed my bill H.R. 3359 the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2017. This watershed legislation will streamline the current structure of the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) and re-designate it as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) to more effectively execute cybersecurity and critical infrastructure related authorities. With the advancement of technology and our increased dependence on computer networks nation states hackers and cybercriminals are finding new ways to attack our cyber infrastructure and expose vulnerabilities. This re-alignment will achieve DHSs goal of creating a stand-alone operational organization focusing on and elevating its vital cybersecurity and infrastructure security missions to strengthen the security of digital America and our nations critical infrastructure. As I told The Hill this gives DHS the authorities they need authorities theyve been asking us for for quite some time. You can read the full article by clicking here or on the image below. U.S. Service Academies Nominations I announced the nominations of 21 Texas students for acceptance to the esteemed United States Service Academies. The students are recommended based on their academic performance leadership skills extracurricular involvement and character. It is an honor and a privilege to nominate such outstanding young Texans to our nations service academies. This nomination signifies years of hard work and dedication.  Their decision to serve our country in uniform is admirable and I am confident the future of our nation is in good hands. Click here or on the image below to see the full list of names nominated. Legislative Update Last week the House passed a number of important pieces of legislation and below are a few that may be of interest to you:

• My bill H.R. 3359 - the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2017. This bill redesignates the Department of Homeland Securitys National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
• Two bills targeting Iran: H.R. 1638 the Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act and H.R. 4324 the Strengthening Oversight of Irans Access to Finance Act. These bills require the Department of the Treasury to submit reports on commercial passenger aircraft sales to Iran and on further efforts to prevent the financing of terrorism money laundering or related illicit finance.
• Two bills on protecting religion: H.R. 1730 the Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2017 and H.Res. 407 on Condemning the persecution of Christians around the world. These bills will clarify and strengthen the coverage of current laws against damaging religious property and condemn the persecution of Christians around the world.
• H.Res. 336 - Reaffirming a strong commitment to the United States-Mexico partnership. This bill reaffirms a strong commitment to a U.S.-Mexico partnership based on mutual respect and the promotion of shared democratic values as well as encourages continued security cooperation between the United States and Mexican law enforcement agencies and militaries.

This week there are a number of bills that we are voting on. Here are a few to highlight:

• Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1 the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. This bill will for the first time in 31 years deliver tax relief to the American people and provide them with a simpler fairer tax code.
• Two bills to combat human trafficking: S. 1536 the Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act and S. 1532 the No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act. These bill direct the Secretary of Transportation to designate a human trafficking prevention coordinator from within the Department and disqualifies individuals from operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for their lifetime if they used a CMV to commit a felony involving human trafficking.
• H.R. 4323 the Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act. This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote veteran involvement in STEM education computer science and scientific research.
• House Amendment to Senate Amendment to H.R. 1370 the Further Continuing Resolution. This bill funds government operations at current funding levels through January 19 2017 for non-defense spending includes increased funding for the Department of Defense and military operations for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2018 and incorporates the House-passed Championing Healthy Kids Act. Government funding is currently set to expire on December 22nd.
• In addition I along with my colleagues from the Texas delegation are pushing to ensure this funding bill includes additional funding for Hurricane Harvey victims and Im hopeful Leadership will honor our request. We must continue to do everything we can to help hard-working Texans rebuild their lives and provide them with the tools and resources they need to do so.

I encourage you to visit my website www.mccaul.house.gov for more information on constituent services and legislative updates.  Also follow me on Facebook Twitter Instagram and YouTube to get the latest updates on my work in Washington and the 10^th District of Texas.  It continues to be a great honor to represent you in the United States House of Representatives.