Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications Subcommittee

The Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications Subcommittee oversees the Department of Homeland Security’s mission to enhance and sustain our National capabilities to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate terrorist attacks and other emergencies and ensure the Nation’s emergency response providers have the vital resources and training needed to accomplish this mission. The Subcommittee oversees the homeland security grant programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure these vital funds are distributed to those areas at greatest risk of attack and that these funds are efficiently administered to maximize their benefit. Additionally, the Subcommittee works to address the threat of terrorist attacks using chemical and biological weapons through oversight of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Health Affairs to ensure that the intelligence, detection, medical countermeasures, medical surge capacity, and other key measures are in place to effectively prevent and prepare for a potential attack. Lastly, because of continuous challenges with communications during past disasters, the Subcommittee will continue to promote emergency interoperable communications for our federal, State, local, and tribal emergency response providers.