WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen in a statement is urging the US Senate to pass a measure that would permanently establish an Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD).
On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives unanimously passed the CWMD Act of 2018.
"I now urge the Senate to do the same, to pass this legislation and send it to the President's desk for signature," Kirstjen said in the release on Thursday. "If enacted into law, this legislation would permanently establish the office and grant it new authorities to protect the American people against evolving WMD threats."
Although the Department of Homeland Security has authorities to protect against radiological and nuclear dangers, it does not have the authorities to guard against biological and chemical threats, Nielsen said.
Kirstjen established the CWMD Office in December 2017, which is currently led by Assistant Homeland Security Secretary James McDonnell, the release said.
