Summary of Draft Legislation
By Senators Joe Lieberman,
D-Conn., Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Bob Graham, D-Fla.
The
proposed legislation calls for formation of a Department of National
Homeland Security, at cabinet level, to plan, coordinate, and integrate
U.S. Government activities relating to homeland security, including border
security and emergency preparedness, and to act as a focal point regarding
natural and manmade crises and emergency planning. The legislation, which will be introduced shortly, creates a White
House Office of Combatting Terrorism to develop an overall assessment of
terrorist threats, to craft and oversee a National Strategy to Combat
Terrorism, and exercise budget certification authority over spending to combat
terrorism.
Title
I
The Department Secretary
The Secretary would be nominated by the President
and confirmed by the Senate. The
Secretary would be a member of the National Security Council.
The Department Secretary’s Duties
The Secretary’s duties would include:
Developing
policies, goals, and plans to promote homeland security
Working
with state and local governments to protect homeland security
Conducting
exercise and training programs for federal employees involved in homeland
security
Establishing effective
command and control procedures for the range of potential contingencies,
including those that may require military support
Developing
a response plan for homeland security and emergency preparedness
The Department’s Composition
The authorities, functions, personnel and assets of
the following agencies would be transferred to the Department of Homeland
Security:
The
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its 10 regional offices
The
United States Customs Service
The
Border Patrol, now under the Immigration and Naturalization Service
The
United States Coast Guard
The Critical Infrastructure
Assurance Office now located within the Commerce Department
The National Infrastructure
Protection Center and the National Domestic Preparedness Office, now located
within the FBI
An office of Science and Technology would be
established to advise the Secretary on research and development and other
science priorities.
The Department’s Organization
The Department would be divided into three sections
responsible for securing the border, protecting critical infrastructure,
including computer systems, and emergency preparedness and response.
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Title
II
Director of the National Office for Combatting
Terrorism within the White House
The director would be appointed by the president and
confirmed by the Senate.
The director would be an advisor to the National
Security Council
The Director’s Duties
The director’s duties will include:
Developing
and reviewing a comprehensive national assessment of terrorist threats
Developing, with the department
secretary, a comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism
Coordinating
and overseeing the execution of the strategy by federal agencies
Developing,
with the department secretary, an annual budget to implement the strategy
Exercising budget review and
certification authority over programs in the terrorism prevention and response
budget.
Title
III
National Strategy to Combat Terrorism
The National Strategy to Combat Terrorism will be
developed collaboratively by the department secretary and the White House
director.
The secretary will have the lead role on issues of
border security, critical infrastructure protection, emergency preparation and
response, and integration with state and local efforts.
The director will take the lead on strategic
planning concerning intelligence and military assets, law enforcement and
diplomacy.
A non-partisan, nine-member panel of outside experts
will be established to provide an assessment of the terrorism strategy.
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