Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) will chair a hearing of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee on Thursday, April 10, at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern) in room 192 Dirksen Senate Office Building. The Subcommittee will discuss the fiscal year 2004 budget needs for the Science and Technology directorate at the Department of Homeland Security.

The Science and Technology directorate will become the primary research and development arm of the Department of Homeland Security. The S&T directorate will organize the vast scientific and technological resources of the United States to prevent or mitigate the effects of catastrophic terrorism against the United States or its allies. It will unify and coordinate much of the federal government's efforts to develop and implement scientific and technological countermeasures, including channeling the intellectual energy and extensive capacity of important scientific institutions, such as the national laboratories and academic institutions.

Dr. Charles McQueary, Undersecretary of Science and Technology at the Department of Homeland Security, will testify before the subcommittee.

**NOTE: Audio and video from the hearing will be carried live on the Senator's web site at www.senate.gov/~cochran/ Click on the blue text box under the Senator's photograph.