DHS Biodetection Improvement Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/706
Last Updated: March 15, 2025

Sponsored by

Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5]

ID: S001220

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

March 12, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed House

Senate Review

📍 Current Status

Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, brought to you by the esteemed members of Congress. Let's dissect this farce and get to the real diagnosis.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The DHS Biodetection Improvement Act (HR 706) claims to improve the Department of Homeland Security's biodetection functions. How quaint. The actual purpose is to funnel more taxpayer dollars into the coffers of defense contractors, national laboratories, and other favored stakeholders. It's a classic case of "follow the money" – or in this case, follow the pork.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct an assessment (read: create a report that will gather dust) on how DHS utilizes Department of Energy national laboratories for biodetection research and development. The strategy must include identifying biodetection technologies, developing an acquisition plan, conducting external evaluations, and assisting with program requirements. Yawn. This is just bureaucratic doublespeak for "we need more money to fund our pet projects."

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved:

* Department of Homeland Security (DHS) * Department of Energy national laboratories * Defense contractors * Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments * Institutions of higher education (read: recipients of pork barrel funding) * The private sector (i.e., companies that will profit from this boondoggle)

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a symptom of the disease known as "Security Theater." It's designed to make Americans feel safer while accomplishing little. In reality, it will:

* Waste taxpayer dollars on unnecessary research and development * Enrich defense contractors and national laboratories * Create more bureaucratic red tape and inefficiencies * Provide a false sense of security for the American public

In short, HR 706 is a classic case of "legislative malpractice." It's a bill that promises much but delivers little, all while lining the pockets of special interests. The real disease here is the corruption and incompetence that pervades our government. This bill is just another symptom of a far more insidious illness – one that threatens to consume us all.

Diagnosis: Terminal Stupidity (TS) with complications from Corruption-Induced Myopia (CIM). Prognosis: Poor. Treatment: None, as the patient (Congress) refuses to acknowledge its own incompetence.

Related Topics

Federal Budget & Appropriations Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Congressional Rules & Procedures Transportation & Infrastructure Government Operations & Accountability National Security & Intelligence Small Business & Entrepreneurship State & Local Government Affairs Civil Rights & Liberties
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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$60,500
27 donors
PACs
$1,000
Organizations
$20,800
Committees
$0
Individuals
$38,700
1
REPUBLICAN MAINSTREET PARTNERSHIP PAC
1 transaction
$1,000
1
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
2 transactions
$6,600
2
THE CHICKASAW NATION
3 transactions
$6,300
3
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
1 transaction
$2,900
4
PECHANGA BAND OF INDIANS
1 transaction
$1,000
5
JOHN PLUNK ATTORNEY PC
1 transaction
$1,000
6
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
1 transaction
$1,000
7
MOHEGAN TRIBE OF INDIANS OF CT
1 transaction
$1,000
8
MS BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
WALKER, IZOLIA
1 transaction
$3,300
2
WALKER, TRAVIS
1 transaction
$3,300
3
JABER, GASSAN
1 transaction
$3,300
4
STRONG, CALVIN
1 transaction
$3,100
5
JABER, MUNEER
1 transaction
$3,000
6
JABET, GHASAN
1 transaction
$3,000
7
IRWIN, WILLIE
1 transaction
$2,500
8
MAY, KENNETH
1 transaction
$2,000
9
ELAYAN, ABDELHAKIM
1 transaction
$2,000
10
IBRAHIM, AHMAD
1 transaction
$2,000
11
OZRAIN, ZIAD
1 transaction
$2,000
12
QAWASMEI, MOHAMMAD
1 transaction
$2,000
13
AMRO, SARI
1 transaction
$1,500
14
ANRO, ABED
1 transaction
$1,500
15
JONES, ERIN
1 transaction
$1,200
16
ANDREWS, MARTINAS
1 transaction
$1,000
17
HARRIS, MARSHALL
1 transaction
$1,000
18
JONES, WILLIAM
1 transaction
$1,000

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

ID: H001077

Top Contributors

10

1
LAWLEY AGENCY
Organization BUFFALO, NY
$1,000
Mar 31, 2023
2
WESTERN NEW YORK MRI, LLP
Organization BUFFALO, NY
$1,000
May 19, 2023
3
THORNBERG, KEN
FREEDOM ENCOUNTERS MINISTRY
Individual BOISE, ID
$208
Apr 4, 2024
4
DOWNING, FRANK
Individual ORCHARD PARK, NY
$3,300
Nov 29, 2023
5
GLYNN, CHRISTOPHER M.
Individual NIAGARA FALLS, NY
$3,300
Nov 29, 2023
6
LEE, CYNTHIA R.
Individual KEY LARGO, FL
$3,300
Nov 29, 2023
7
LEE, PATRICK P.
Individual KEY LARGO, FL
$3,300
Nov 29, 2023
8
PIETROWSKI, DAVE
Individual ORCHARD PARK, NY
$3,300
Nov 29, 2023
9
VAZQUEZ, RAUL MD
Individual WILLIAMSVILLE, NY
$3,300
Nov 29, 2023
10
BALBACH, CHARLES
NANCY L PRESSLY & ASSOC SELF-INVESTOR
Individual ORCHARD PARK, NY
$3,300
Mar 22, 2023

Donor Network - Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 32 nodes and 33 connections

Total contributions: $62,708

Top Donors - Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5]

Showing top 25 donors by contribution amount

1 PAC8 Orgs18 Individuals