This bill improves DHSs Securing the Cities program, which detects nuclear and radiological materials to prevent terrorist attacks. It requires performance metrics and milestones for the program. CWMD can now designate partner jurisdictions based on threat assessment rather than only working with FEMA-designated high-risk urban areas. Reports to Congress track program performance against established metrics.
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill improves DHSs Securing the Cities program, which detects nuclear and radiological materials to prevent terrorist attacks. It requires performance metrics and milestones for the program. CWMD can now designate partner jurisdictions based on threat assessment rather than only working with FEMA-designated high-risk urban areas. Reports to Congress track program performance against established metrics.
Last updated: 12/30/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Securing the Cities Improvement Act</strong></p><p>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.</p><p>Specifically, the bill requires the CWMD to establish performance metrics and milestones for the program and to track performance against them.</p><p>Also, under current law, in carrying out the Securing the Cities program, the CWMD may only partner with cities that are <em>high-risk urban areas</em>, 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.</p><p>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.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Requires performance metrics for Securing the Cities program
Allows CWMD to designate partner jurisdictions directly
Expands beyond FEMA high-risk urban area designations
Based on threat, vulnerability, and consequence assessment
Tracks nuclear and radiological material detection capabilities
Mandates performance reports to Congress within 2 years
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
This bill strengthens accountability and flexibility in nuclear and radiological threat detection programs. By allowing DHS to directly assess and designate jurisdictions based on actual threat profiles rather than relying on FEMAs separate designation process, the program can better target resources where needed. Performance metrics ensure the program delivers measurable security improvements. These changes could expand protection to vulnerable areas not currently covered while improving overall program effectiveness.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Emergency Management
Related Subjects
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Homeland security
Nuclear weapons
Performance measurement
Terrorism
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
1374, 119th Congress (2025). "Securing the Cities Improvement Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-1374
