WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), Member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, and Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, re-introduced the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Securing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force Act. 

This legislation will establish a task force within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dedicated to addressing safety and national security challenges posed by AI. The task force and reporting requirements will ensure effective DHS coordination as AI threats and challenges evolve. Recently, Rep. Carter appeared on CNBC to discuss how to regulate AI while preserving innovation.

“As technology advances in sophistication and use, our commitment to safeguarding against emerging threats and ensuring the responsible advancement of AI technologies must grow stronger too,” said Congressman Carter. “I’m introducing the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Securing AI Task Force Act to take an essential step towards managing the impact of AI on our cybersecurity landscape.”

“Advancements in AI technology are expanding by the day and we need to make sure our cybersecurity defenses are moving with it,” said Ranking Member Thompson. “This bill creates a dedicated CISA task force so the agency can better understand the risks that come with AI and make sure we are prepared to protect the systems and infrastructure Americans rely on every day. I am proud to work alongside Representative Carter to reintroduce this critical legislation and help ensure our defenses are ready for what comes next.”

Background

The CISA Securing AI Task Force Act would:

• Establish a Task Force - Within one year of enactment, the Director of CISA will establish a Task Force comprised of personnel from various offices and divisions to coordinate AI-related directives and activities.
• Address AI Challenges - The Task Force will ensure coordination of efforts to improve the safe and secure design, development, adoption, and deployment of AI. It will assess relevant safety and security initiatives, advise stakeholders on potential cyber risks associated with AI deployment, and identify workforce gaps.
• Increase Accountability - The Task Force will provide biannual briefings to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate on its activities.

Read the full bill text here.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced the 988 Crisis Workforce Response Act. This legislation builds on existing behavioral health workforce training programs at the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to include trained crisis professionals, improving recruitment and retention efforts for these critical members of the behavioral health care team. 

“America is not only experiencing a mental health crisis – but a severe mental health workforce shortage,” said Congressman Carter. “Every year, millions of Americans rely on the 988 Crisis Line to connect them to care, to specialists, and to hope. But without a properly trained and substantial workforce, individuals with mental health needs aren’t getting the care they deserve. This commonsense legislation will ensure that our behavioral health professionals have the support and resources necessary to continue providing care to those who need it.”

“When someone calls 988, they are often reaching out on one of the hardest days of their life. We need to make sure there is a trained professional ready to answer that call and help them through what comes next,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “I’m proud to partner with Congressman Carter on this impactful legislative effort to build the behavioral health workforce communities need and turn 988 from a number people can call into a system that can truly respond when someone is in crisis.”

Background

Nationwide, 137 million Americans live in a Mental Health Professional Service Area, and many states specifically report they have a shortage of crisis care providers. Without dedicated recruitment and retention programs, we will continue to fall short of the workforce needs for a robust crisis care continuum. 

The 988 Crisis Response Workforce Act builds on existing behavioral health workforce training programs at the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to include trained crisis professionals, improving recruitment and retention efforts for these critical members of the behavioral health care team.   

Specifically, this bill: 

• Directs the Secretary to collect data on the availability and shortage of crisis response professionals and facilities. 
• Creates a $10 million pilot program to train professionals who provide crisis management services, including those delivered at crisis call centers, as part of a mobile crisis response team, or through a crisis receiving and stabilization program, as part of the Minority Fellowship Program, 
• Authorizes $10 million to add crisis workforce training programs as part of the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program. 

The 988 Crisis Workforce Response Act was included in a larger 988 package – the 988 Implementation Act, which was introduced earlier this month. The 988 Implementation Act is cosponsored by Congressmembers Doris Matsui (CA-07), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Troy Carter (LA-02), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Don Beyer (VA-08), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Becca Balint (VT-AL), and Kim Schrier (WA-08). The comprehensive legislative package will provide states with federal resources to build the crisis response infrastructure behind the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Read the full bill text here.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA), alongside Reps.  Mike Ezell (R-MS) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) introduced the Federal Emergency Mobilization Accountability (FEMA) Workforce Planning Act. This legislation requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop and submit detailed workforce plans to Congress to ensure the agency can effectively respond to natural disasters and other emergencies. It also requires FEMA to improve employee recruitment and retention efforts, develop strategies to train and deploy its workforce efficiently, and use data to address and fix staffing gaps.

“Americans rely on FEMA in our most desperate moments,” said Congressman Carter. “As storms grow more intense and last longer, our commitment to preparedness must grow stronger too. I’m proud to champion this bipartisan legislation that will ensure FEMA has the support they need to maintain an effective and efficient workforce prepared to respond wherever and whenever disaster strikes.”

“Communities across South Mississippi know firsthand how important it is to have a prepared and capable FEMA workforce when disaster strikes,” said Congressman Ezell. “I’m proud to help introduce the FEMA Workforce Planning Act to ensure FEMA has the right people, training, and resources in place to respond quickly and effectively when Americans need help most. By improving workforce planning and addressing staffing gaps before the next emergency, we can strengthen FEMA’s readiness and better serve communities recovering from disasters.”

“Unfortunately, FEMA’s longstanding workforce problems have only worsened over the last year and a half. In order to respond to worsening disasters, we need FEMA to have the proper analysis, strategies, and plans to ensure its workforce is effective and meeting the needs of the nation. I thank Congressman Carter for introducing this necessary legislation,” said Congressman Thompson.

Background

The Federal Emergency Mobilization Accountability (FEMA) Workforce Planning Act requires the FEMA Administrator to develop a human capital operating plan, in accordance with best practices outlined by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Comptroller General of the United States, to shape and improve the Agency's workforce. The plan must be submitted to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure every 3 years.

The workforce plans must include:

• Performance measures to evaluate progress towards the human capital goals of FEMA, including filling staffing gaps, closing skills gaps in mission-critical occupations, and implementing workforce training and, if applicable, progress towards meeting those goals;
• Details of the types of employees of FEMA, including by hiring authority and cadre;
• A comprehensive analysis of the projected costs associated with implementing the plan;
• Strategies and practices designed to increase cost-efficiency within the workforce operations of FEMA, including reducing overhead costs, improving resource utilization, and avoiding unnecessary expenditures;
• A detailed analysis of how FEMA determined its current overall staffing goals;
• An analysis of the current workforce of FEMA and possible gaps in the current staffing structure needed to fulfill FEMA’s mission; and,
• A plan of action with specific recommendations for developing and reshaping the workforce of FEMA to address the gaps in critical and emerging skills.

Read the full bill text here.

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