Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 3.djvu/655

 PUBLIC LAW 107-296—NOV. 25, 2002 116 STAT. 2247 on terrorism preparedness to ensure adequate planning, information sharing, training, and execution of domestic preparedness activities among these agencies and entities; and (7) serve as a liaison between the Federal Government and State, local, and regional authorities, and private sector entities in the National Capital Region to facilitate access to Federal grants and other programs. (c) ANNUAL REPORT. — The Office established under subsection (a) shall submit an annual report to Congress that includes— (1) the identification of the resources required to fully implement homeland security efforts in the National Capital Region; (2) an assessment of the progress made by the National Capital Region in implementing homeland security efforts; and (3) recommendations to Congress regarding the additional resources needed to fully implement homeland security efforts in the National Capital Region. (d) LIMITATION. — Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as limiting the power of State and local governments. SEC. 883. REQUIREMENT TO COMPLY WITH LAWS PROTECTING EQUAL 6 USC 463. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND PROVIDING WHISTLE- BLOWER PROTECTIONS. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as exempting the Department from requirements applicable with respect to executive agencies— (1) to provide equal employment protection for employees of the Department (including pursuant to the provisions in section 2302(b)(1) of title 5, United States Code, and the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-174)); or (2) to provide whistleblower protections for employees of the Department (including pursuant to the provisions in section 2302(b)(8) and (9) of such title and the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002). SEC. 884. FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER. 6 USC 464. (a) IN GENERAL. — The transfer of an authority or an agency under this Act to the Department of Homeland Security does not affect training agreements already entered into with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center with respect to the training of personnel to carry out that authority or the duties of that transferred agency. (b) CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS.—Al l activities of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center transferred to the Department of Homeland Security under this Act shall continue to be carried out at the locations such activities were carried out before such transfer. SEC. 885. JOINT INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE. 6 USC 465. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary may establish and operate a permanent Joint Interagency Homeland Security Task Force composed of representatives from military and civilian agencies of the United States Government for the purposes of anticipating terrorist threats against the United States and taking appropriate actions to prevent harm to the United States. (b) STRUCTURE.—It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary should model the Joint Interagency Homeland Security Task Force

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