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| Wilson Shapes Critical Elements of the Department of Homeland Security |
July 11, 2002 |
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| Strengthens Research and Development and Cybersecurity Capabilities
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Heather Wilson has focused her efforts this week to strengthen what she saw to be deficiencies in the bill to create a Department of Homeland Security, namely a research and development structure and adequate cybersecurity. Wilson is the only member that sits on both the Energy and Commerce and Armed Services Committees, two committees that have jurisdiction over the legislation.
“We need to make sure that this agency we are creating is organized in such a way as to be effective in both research and development and cybersecurity, because if we don’t, it will be doomed to failure from the beginning,” said Wilson. “This week we have taken very important steps toward creating a solid, effective Department of Homeland Security.”
The modified bill that passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee includes two very important provisions. First, there will now be an Undersecretary for Research, Development, and Technology systems. This position would be crucial for coordinating research programs for long term needs and ensuring scientific capabilities exist to meet them. In addition, this Undersecretary will integrate the research needs across the Department and align programs with other Departments to reduce duplication of efforts.
The bill allows the new Department of Homeland Security to tap the national laboratories to conduct research at the same cost the Department of Energy itself pays. The bill also adds in a significant new piece on cyber-security to address one of the greatest threats we face. Information security teams will be authorized to assist in securing federal critical information systems by testing for vulnerabilities.
In the House Armed Services Committee, Wilson was successful in passing liability protection for contract employees who serve on the Nuclear Incident Response Team. The Armed Services committee bill directs the Secretary to establish a center at one of our national laboratories but does not specify Lawrence Livermore, the California laboratory the Administration had identified as the preferred location for the center.
“If one lab is designated as a center, Sandia might well be the right place,” said Wilson.
The various House committees who have jurisdiction over the Homeland Security bill will report their versions of the bill to the Select Committee on Homeland Security who will incorporate them into a single bill which is expected to come to the House floor by the end of July.
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