House Approves Special Committee to Oversee
Creation of Department of Homeland Security

June 19, 2002

WASHINGTON - Calling the President’s proposal for a Department of Homeland Security “critical to the nation’s security and an important new approach to defeating terrorism on American soil,” Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, led floor debate today on House Resolution 449, to establish the Select Committee on Homeland Security. Agreed to without objection, H. Res. 449 authorizes a new committee to guide Congressional consideration of the reorganization reforms necessary to create a Department of Homeland Security.

“A Department of Homeland Security will produce effective and functional changes to the organization of America’s security infrastructure,” said Dreier. “Right now, agencies charged with protecting our borders, enforcing our laws and keeping Americans safe are grouped with those responsible for overseeing the nation’s finances and maintaining the federal highway system. Rather than the multitude of agencies and bureaus that currently hold homeland security authority, the President’s plan charges one agency with protecting our homeland, with no distractions or conflicting objectives. This Presidential initiative represents bipartisanship at its best. As we address the security needs of our homeland, passage of this resolution is a bold and important step toward that end.”

This week, the President submitted to Congress a plan for creating a Cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security. The President’s proposal would alter the current federal department structure, empowering the Department of Homeland Security to oversee agencies and bureaus responsible for border protection, accessing and analyzing intelligence information, working with local and state governments to manage federal emergency response activities, and developing chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear countermeasures. H. Res. 449 creates a Select Committee that is limited in scope, authorized only to consider legislation creating a Homeland Security Department, and dissolving once the duty has been completed. It will be a small group comprised of elected leaders from both parties.