{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://clayhiggins.house.gov/2024/09/16/higgins-bipartisan-legislation-to-combat-transnational-criminal-organizations-passes-committee/", "Higgins\u2019 Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Transnational Criminal Organizations Passes Committee", "2024-09-16", "2024", "2024-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Clay Higgins", "H001077", "clayhiggins.house.gov", "clayhiggins", "https://clayhiggins.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Clay Higgins\u2019 (R-LA) bipartisan legislation to protect the southern border and combat transnational criminal organizations passed the House Homeland Security Committee by unanimous vote. This legislation reauthorizes the Joint Task Forces (JTFs) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) so that they can coordinate agencies to combat drug smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorist threats.\n\nIn 2014, the Department of Homeland Security established several joint task forces to streamline and unify national security operations and investigations against transnational criminal organizations. This legislation would extend DHS\u2019s authority to establish and operate JTFs through September 30, 2026, so that federal law enforcement agencies can continue to work together and confront the national security risks our country faces.\n\n\u201cThis bill represents a bipartisan effort to help secure our southern border,\u201d said Congressman Higgins. \u201cThe current Joint Task Force-East has shown to be markedly successful in dealing with the complex problems facing our homeland. Reauthorizing this commonsense legislation ensures the safety and security of our nation.\u201d\n\nRead the legislation here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://clayhiggins.house.gov/2024/09/16/higgins-bipartisan-legislation-to-combat-transnational-criminal-organizations-passes-committee/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9192358702421188, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}