Critical Homeland Security Measures Pass House
June 18, 2008 (WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security announced House passage of seven critical homeland security bills.
Chairman Thompson issued the following statement regarding the legislation:
“The passage of these bills is critical to increasing our Nation’s homeland security. The broad range of these measures varies from aviation security to detection and prevention of nuclear bombs and IEDs,” said Thompson. “I look forward to working with the Senate to include these measures in a House-Senate Conference on the Department of Homeland Security Authorization this year.”
The following measures passed today:
H.R. 4179 – The Fair, Accurate, Secure and Timely Redress Act of 2008 (FAST Redress Act of 2008)
Sponsored by Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), this bill establishes a timely and fair redress process for individuals who have been misidentified against terrorist watch lists and improves information sharing within DHS.
H.R. 5982 – The Biometric Enhancement for Airport-Risk Reduction Act of 2008 (BEAR Act of 2008)
Sponsored by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), this bill requires TSA to conduct a study on how airports can adopt biometric identification systems for airport workers.
H.R. 5909 – The Catching Operational Vulnerabilities by Ensuring Random Testing Act of 2008 (COVERT Act of 2008)
Sponsored by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), this bill prohibits the advance notice of covert testing to airport security screeners and ensures testing integrity.
H.Res.1150
Sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), this resolution expresses that TSA should enhance security to our Nation's rail and mass transit lines.
H.R. 4749 – National Bombing Prevention Act of 2008
Sponsored by Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY), this bill establishes an office for enhancing Federal coordination of efforts to deter, detect, prevent, protect against, and respond to terrorist explosive attacks.
H.R. 1333 – The Civil Air Patrol Homeland Security Support Act of 2007
Sponsored by Rep. Charles W. Dent (R-PA), this bill requires the Government Accountability Office to assess the capabilities of the Civil Air Patrol to partner with the Department of Homeland Security.
H.R. 2631 – The Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act
Sponsored by Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), this bill would support international and domestic efforts to create a nuclear forensics capability to determine the sources of nuclear and “dirty” bombs.
# # #
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Dena Graziano or Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978
