Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
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	Press Releases July 13, 2005   SENATOR COLLINS’ STATEMENT ON DHS’ SECOND STAGE REVIEW Sec. Chertoff briefed Chmn. Collins on Monday before announcement   Washington, DC – Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) today released a statement following the press conference by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff regarding the Department’s Second Stage Review. Secretary Chertoff briefed Senator Collins about the review during a private meeting in the Senator’s Capitol Hill office on Monday. Senator Collins is the Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over DHS. The following is Senator Collins’ statement: “I applaud Secretary Chertoff and his team for conducting a broad review of the Department’s organization and missions that has resulted in insightful proposals for strengthening homeland security. The Second Stage Review builds upon the theme of integration that was the intent of the Homeland Security Act and aims to ensure that the agencies are working more efficiently and effectively to help make America safer. Whether the issue is securing our cargo ports or chemical facilities, equipping and training our first responders, or improving counterterrorism information sharing, our Committee has worked with the Department not just to identify problems, but also to forge solutions. This Second Stage Review is a landmark for the Department and it comes, appropriately, as the second generation of Department leadership takes over from its commendable predecessors. “I am particularly interested in the Secretary’s proposal to create a Chief Intelligence Officer and an Under-Secretary for Policy and Planning. A strong Chief Intelligence Officer is needed to coordinate the efforts of DHS’ many intelligence-gathering components, to share key information with the rest of the Intelligence Community as well as state and local first responders and officials and the private sector, and, to ensure that the Secretary has the information he needs - when he needs it - to better protect our homeland. An Under-Secretary for Policy would help direct the future course of the Department, set priorities, and ensure the plans to achieve them are implemented. “I look forward to hearing more details from Secretary Chertoff when he testifies before our Committee about these proposals and other issues that were addressed in the Review.” Secretary Chertoff is scheduled to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on the results of the Second Stage Review on Thursday, July 14th at 1:30pm. The hearing will be chaired by Senator Collins and will be held in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 562.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 July 2005 Press Releases June   |  August   --   2004   |  2006     July 29 - Senator Collins Stresses Need For DHS Guidance And Oversight Of Visa Security Program   July 29 - Senator Collins’ Statement On GAO’s Paul Posner   July 27 - Senator Collins To Introduce Chemical Security Legislation In Fall   July 27 - Senate Homeland Security Leaders Call For Increased Mass Transit Security Funding   July 26 - Senator Collins’ Legislation Stops U.S. Companies from Using Foreign Subsidiaries to Do Business with Terrorist States   July 22 - Senators Collins & Lieberman Criticize TSA for Violating Privacy Laws While Testing Passenger Prescreening System   July 22 - Senators Collins, Lieberman Launch Investigation into Mass Transit Security in the U.S.   July 21 - Senator Collins Says Move By China To Revalue Yuan Is Good First Step, More Needs To Be Done To Meet Fair Trade Standards   July 21 - Committee Approves Nominees For DHS IG, GSA IG, & TSA Administrator   July 20 - Feingold, Collins Provision To Watch Over Iraq Reconstruction Spending Included In Senate Foreign Ops Bill   July 19 - Senator Collins Applauds Maine Coast Guard Crew Involved In Major Cocaine Busts   July 18 - Senator Collins Announces $7.1 Million For Amtrak Security   July 14 - SENATOR COLLINS SPONSORS LEGISLATION TO ENSURE REASONABLE BORDER REQUIREMENTS FOR FREQUENT TRAVELERS TO CANADA   July 13 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN QUESTION INDUSTRY AND OTHER EXPERTS ON PRIORITIES FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO MAKE CHEMICAL FACILITIES MORE SECURE   July 13 current Press Release   July 12 - SENATE APPROVES COLLINS-LIEBERMAN FIRST RESPONDER GRANT FORMULA, DOUBLES RISK-BASED HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING   July 11 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN OFFER FIRST RESPONDER GRANT LEGISLATION AS AMENDMENT TO HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL   July 10 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN RELEASE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE SAFEGUARDS IN FEMA’S DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM   July 1 - COMMITTEE RELEASES WHITE HOUSE RESPONSE TO COLLINS-LIEBERMAN INTELLIGENCE REFORM OVERSIGHT LETTER
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Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510