The Week Ahead: House Committee on Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. (Monday, March 14, 2011) – Today, U.S. Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the following Committee events for the week:
Tuesday, March 15
10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security
Candice S. Miller (MI), Chairman
“Strengthening the Border – Finding the Right Mix of Personnel, Infrastructure and Technology”
311 Cannon House Office Building
WITNESSES
Mr. Michael J. Fisher
Chief of the Border Patrol
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Mark Borkowski
Assistant Commissioner
Office of Technology Innovation and Acquisition
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Michael C. Kostelnik
Assistant Commissioner
Office of CBP Air & Marine
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Department of Homeland Security
Major General Hugo Salazar
The Adjutant General
Arizona National Guard
Mr. Richard M. Stana
Director
Homeland Security and Justice
Government Accountability Office
Chairman Miller on the hearing:
“As recent government reports have highlighted, America has a long way to go to achieve operational control of our nation’s border. For many years, we have lacked the political will to do what is necessary to secure our border and keep our citizens safe. At this hearing, we will examine the three main pillars that allow Border Patrol agents to be effective – a combination of personnel, infrastructure and technology. Since 2004, we have invested billions of dollars in each of these three categories, but need to take a closer look at how they work together in concert.”
Wednesday, March 16
10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies
Daniel E. Lungren (CA), Chairman
“Examining the Cyber Threat to Critical Infrastructure and the American Economy”
311 Cannon House Office Building
WITNESSES
Panel 1
Mr. Philip Reitinger
Deputy Under Secretary
National Protection and Programs Directorate
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Greg Wilshusen
Director of Information Security Issues
Government Accountability Office
Panel 2
Mr. James Lewis
Director and Senior Fellow
Technology and Public Policy Program
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Ms. Phyllis Schneck, Ph.D
V.P. and Chief Technical Officer
Global Public Sector, McAfee, Inc.
Chairman Lungren on the hearing:
“Our March 16th hearing is intended to further our understanding of the cyber threat to our critical infrastructure and government networks. The cyber threat has proved to be both dynamic and fluid. Understanding the nature of this threat is essential if we are to develop effective security responses. This will be our first in a series of hearings to identify and address gaps in our government’s cybersecurity efforts.”
Thursday, March 17
2:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications
Gus M. Bilirakis (FL), Chairman
“Ensuring Effective Preparedness, Response, and Recovery for Events Impacting Health Security”
311 Cannon House Office Building
WITNESSES
Dr. Alexander Garza
Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer
Office of Health Affairs
Department of Homeland Security
Chairman Bilirakis on the hearing:
"This hearing will provide Subcommittee Members with an opportunity to question Dr. Garza about the Office of Health Affairs, its mission, and its role in the Department of Homeland Security's medical preparedness and response efforts, including responding to a chemical or biological attack. I am particularly interested in hearing about plans for the BioWatch and NBIC programs going forward, given concerns expressed about them in the past."