[Washington, DC, June 25, 2003]—An amendment offered jointly by Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee to legislation authorizing Project Bioshield passed the Committee on Homeland Security today.  Christensen and  Jackson Lee of Texas sought to include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and those serving large proportions of Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Islanders and other underrepresented populations in the research, development and procurement projects under the provisions of Project Bioshield.

The amendment was rewritten slightly due to objections by some Republican members that the provision constituted a preference, however it passed as part of the Project Bioshield legislation and now moves on for consideration to the full House.

“It was a rewarding victory,” said Christensen.  “I knew we would have problems with the amendment because it came under a section that the chairman agreed would not be addressed,” said Christensen, “but to have this language which is found throughout other laws objected to, caught me by surprise. “

Project Bioshield, is a Bush administration initiative to create a marketplace for counter biological products for use in case the nation is attacked by biological weapons.

Delegate Christensen told the panel that HBCUs, of which the University of the Virgin Islands is one, are often overlooked and not included in the major research projects done in the country.  “Today, with endowments and enrollments down at many of these important institutions, getting financial support is becoming more of a problem for HBCUs,” she said.  Christensen said that the ability to receive research dollars could help to alleviate that.

Today’s action in the Homeland Security Committee follows over two weeks of intense activity on the Homeland Security front. 

Christensen Requests Border Patrol Unit for VI;  Queries on TSA

On Wednesday, Delegate Christensen questioned Asa Hutchinson, the new Undersecretary of Homeland Security for Border Security on the ongoing cutbacks to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) which have affected workers in the territory and the possible transfer of staff to other parts of the agency.  She also used the opportunity to request once more the establishment of a Border Patrol Unit for the Virgin Islands. 

“Our greatest concern is the lack of a Border Patrol Unit,” Christensen told Hutchinson and the panel.  “The Coast Guard units in the Virgin Islands are called upon to oversee what maybe the busiest cruise ship port in the Caribbean – the port of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, while having to patrol and guard over 175 miles of unprotected open borders which is our country’s southern most border and a gateway to the United States.”  Christensen also told them that, “we are also home to HOVENSA, the largest oil refinery in the Western Hemisphere, which regularly receives a number of very large tankers.”  Delegate Christensen also invited Hutchinson, to schedule a listening session in the territory to hear first hand the territory’s concerns.

Christensen Listens On Cybersecurity Concerns; Weighs In on Funding Issues

Earlier on Wednesday, Delegate Christensen attended the Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Science and Research and Development hearing on the threat to the nation’s vast network of cyberactivity.  A member of the Subcommittee, Christensen listened to various experts detail what is needed to protect the critical infrastructure of cyberspace and all that our modern lifestyles depend on.

Christensen submitted statements for the record on two Homeland Security measures which came to the floor on Tuesday.  She supported Congressman David Obey’s amendment to add an additional $1 billion to HR 2555 to fill deficits in homeland security funding.  Christensen again noted the need for a Border Patrol Unit for the Virgin Islands and more funding for Customs, the FBI, TSA and the Coast Guard to adequately protect critical assets in the territory.  Christensen supported the passage of HR 1416, a technical corrections bill to the Homeland Security Act which clarifies the lines of responsibilities for first responders and others with the responsibility of protecting the nation.

Christensen Attends Field Hearings on Port Security, Visits Northern Command

Last weekend, Christensen attended field hearings of the Homeland Security Committee at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, among the largest in the nation to oversee the efforts that federal and local agencies are making in making those ports more secure.  “There is still much more that needs to be done particularly as it relates to the amount of resources that is needed to carry out their federal security mandates.”  Christensen and her colleagues on the Committee also traveled to Colorado to meet with General Ralph Eberhardt and staff at the Northern Command.  “The trip is extremely useful both for me to have the information that I need to make sure that the Virgin Islands is protected and to fulfill my role on the committee for the nation,” said Christensen.

Christensen Urges Undersecretary Brown to Visit the Territory

Last week, Christensen heard the testimony of Michael Brown, Undersecretary for Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response at a hearing of the full committee.  The Delegate invited the Undersecretary, who oversees disaster preparedness and response to visit the territory in the near future.