Science and Technology Bill Will Advance Homeland Security Interests
April 15, 2010 (WASHINGTON) – Today, the House Committee on Homeland Security, chaired by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), passed out of Committee H.R. 4842, the “Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization Act of 2010”. This bipartisan legislation was sponsored by Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology Chairwoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Ranking Member Dan Lungren (R-CA), and Ranking Member Peter King (R-NY) and Chairman Thompson. Homeland Security Members approved sixteen bipartisan amendments.
Chairman Thompson released the following statement:
“This comprehensive bill is the result of nine months of bipartisan process. From screening technologies to first responder equipment, this bill ensures that the Science and Technology Directorate is at the forefront of efforts to develop novel approaches and technologies to respond to some of the most vexing homeland security challenges.”
“In addition, this bill seeks to enhance accessibility, transparency, and responsiveness to ensure innovative firms—especially small businesses – can do business with S&T;,” said Thompson.
This is the first authorization bill for S&T; since the Department of Homeland Security was created in 2002.
• This bill will put S&T; on the path to fulfilling its potential by not only providing roughly $2.27 billion in resources over the next two years but also requiring a strategic plan, management reforms, and streamlined processes to drive its research activities in a manner that is responsive to its customers—TSA, CBP, Coast Guard and the other DHS components as well as first responders.
• This bill also authorizes an Office of Public-Private Partnerships to increase outreach and to ensure technological innovations get quick review at the Department as well as a new “Rapid Review Division” to assess unsolicited proposals.
• To address the single biggest obstacle to homeland security technology innovation-- access to capital, it requires to Secretary to review existing Federal venture capital programs and develop a model for DHS.
# # #
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please contact Dena Graziano or Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978
