The Week Ahead: House Committee on Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. (Friday, April 29, 2011) – Today, U.S. Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the following Committee events for next week:
Tuesday, May 3
10:00 a.m., 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security
Rep. Candice Miller (MI), Chairman
Hearing: “Border Security and Enforcement – Department of Homeland Security’s Cooperation with State and Local Law Enforcement Stakeholders”
INVITED WITNESSES INCLUDE:
Mr. Kumar C. Kibble
Deputy Director
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Ronald Vitiello
Deputy Chief
Border Patrol
Customs and Border Protection
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Larry Dever
Sheriff
Cochise County (Arizona) Sheriff’s Office
Mr. Todd Entrekin
Sheriff
Etowah County (Alabama) Sheriff's Office
Chairman Miller on the hearing:
“Our subcommittee has held hearings focused on the proper mix of personnel and technology to gain operational control of our borders, as well as the implementation of resources at our nation’s ports of entries. Our hearing on May 3rd will focus on examining the level and depth of cooperation between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and state and local stakeholders, and explore ways for Congress to help facilitate cooperation with regard to border security and enforcement. The security of the nation’s borders is primarily a federal government responsibility; however, it is clear that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the DHS cannot secure the border alone. State and local law-enforcement, first responders and other government officials can, and should be leveraged to accomplish the shared goal of a secure border and safe communities.”
Tuesday, May 3
2:00 p.m., 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence
Rep. Patrick Meehan (PA), Chairman
Hearing: “The Threat to the U.S. Homeland Emanating from Pakistan”
INVITED WITNESSES INCLUDE:
Dr. Frederick Kagan
Resident Scholar and Director
American Enterprise Institute Critical Threats Project
Dr. Seth G. Jones
Senior Political Scientist
RAND Corporation
Dr. Stephen Tankel
Visiting Fellow
South Asia Program
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Chairman Meehan on the hearing:
“This hearing will provide Subcommittee Members an opportunity to hear from outside experts on the intent and capability of the various terrorist organizations operating in Pakistan to strike the U.S. homeland. In recent years, we have seen a number of terrorist plots against the United States planned in Pakistan, including the Times Square attack by Faisal Shahzad and the New York City subway plot by Najibullah Zazi. It is critical for Congress to better understand the myriad of counterterrorism and intelligence issues regarding Pakistan so that we can better secure our homeland.”
Wednesday, May 4
10:00 a.m., 311 Cannon House Office Building
Full Committee
Rep. Peter King (NY), Chairman
Hearing: “Securing Our Nation’s Mass Transit Systems Against a Terrorist Attack”
INVITED WITNESSES INCLUDE:
The Honorable John S. Pistole
Administrator
Transportation Security Administration
Department of Homeland Security
The Honorable W. Craig Fugate
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Richard Daddario
Deputy Commissioner for Counterterrorism
New York City Police Department
Mr. Richard L. Rodriguez
President
Chicago Transit Authority
Mr. Daniel O. Hartwig
Deputy Chief – Operations
BART Police Department
San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
Chairman King on the hearing:
“We must ensure that our highest-risk mass transit systems receive the funding and assistance they need from the federal government. I am pleased that we will hear from TSA Administrator Pistole, FEMA Administrator Fugate, and officials from New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco. Each day, millions of Americans rely on our Nation’s mass transit systems, which present security challenges due to their many access points and minimal passenger screening. We know that terrorists are seeking to attack these systems; in just the past two years, we’ve seen arrests of men who planned to blow up the New York City and Washington, D.C. subway systems. A successful attack on a train or bus in one of our cities would not only injure or kill innocent passengers, but would also have devastating economic implications across the country. We need to examine and address the vulnerabilities that exist.”
Wednesday, May 4
2:00 p.m., 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Transportation Security
Rep. Mike Rogers (AL), Chairman
Hearing: “H.R. ___, The MODERN Security Credentials Act”
INVITED WITNESSES INCLUDE:
Mr. Gregory R. Wellen
Assistant Administrator
Transportation Threat Assessment and Credentialing
Transportation Security Administration
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Darrell S. Bowman
Group Leader
Advanced Systems & Applications
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
Mr. Martin Rojas
Vice President
Security & Operations
American Trucking Association
Ms. Jeanne M. Olivier, A.A.E.
Assistant Director
Aviation Security & Technology
Aviation Department
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
Chairman Rogers on the hearing:
“The Subcommittee's hearing will focus on the MODERN Security Credentials Act, which requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to streamline and eliminate redundancies in various transportation security credentialing regulations. My bill takes a crucial step toward streamlining government regulations, which we expect to result in greater savings and less red tape for hard-working men and women who rely on security credentials for their livelihoods.”
See www.homeland.house.gov for updates.
Coverage note: All Committee on Homeland Security hearings are webcast live at www.homeland.house.gov
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