Emergency.Blog

U.S. House Homeland Security Agenda

Posted here 30 Jan 2007

Thompson Lays Out Homeland Security Agenda

Today, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, delivered a roll out address at the George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute. The address, entitled "The Real Deal for Homeland Security?, laid out his agenda for the 110th Congress.

?As Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I know all too well that if we are going to make our nation safer, we need a partnership. Homeland security is neither a Democratic nor a Republican issue. It is an American issue. I plan to work closely with the Committee?s Ranking Member ? Peter King of New York ? to ensure that it stays that way. Now, I might need a little help sometimes translating his Long Island talk into Mississippi speak and vice versa but in the end, I think we would agree that we both believe in DHS?s mission and the need to get the agency up to speed. The homeland security challenges for us this Congress are many. But, above all, we must absolutely assure that our nation has planned, is prepared, and can protect our nation if an emergency occurs.

During President Roosevelt?s inaugural address to the Nation on March 4, 1933, he quoted Proverbs 29:18 and said "where there is no vision, the people perish." Just as he sought to address a failing American economy through the New Deal, today I will provide you with an agenda that I hope will help us plan, prepare, and protect ? The Real Deal for Homeland Security....

Continues at: http://hsc.house.gov/press/index.asp?ID=157

* Thompson said: Another step I have taken to assure that oversight is done properly is to realign the [Homeland Security's] Committee?s subcommittees. Each subcommittee needs focus and the ability to dig down into the issues that plague the Department. The revised structure, along with some outstanding chairs, should make sure that happens. The six subcommittees are as follows:

-- Border, Maritime & Global Counterterrorism, led by Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez;

-- Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment led by Congresswoman Jane Harman;

-- Transportation Security & Infrastructure Protection led by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee;

-- Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science & Technology led by Congressman Jim Langevin;

-- Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response, led by Congressman Henry Cuellar; and

-- Management, Investigation & Oversight led by Congressman Chris Carney

Contact Info:

U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Homeland Security
176 Ford House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Dena Graziano or Todd Levett at (202) 226-2616.