Homeland Security Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on DHS Effectiveness at Countering Emerging Threats -- TOMORROW

Feb 2, 2012 Issues: Counterterrorism, Oversight of DHS Management

Washington, D.C. – The Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management, chaired by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), will hold a hearing entitled “Is DHS Effectively Implementing a Strategy to Counter Emerging Threats?,” tomorrow at 10 a.m. in Room 311 Cannon House Office Building.

Tomorrow’s hearing, the first in a series of subcommittee hearings on DHS effectiveness, will examine the Department’s current homeland security strategic documents including the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR), which provides a framework for department-wide strategies; the Bottom Up Review (BUR), which is a report of initiatives, authorities, activities, and directives for DHS; and the Annual Performance Report, which lists proposed performance measures and applicable results.

This examination will give Members the opportunity to assess gaps between DHS strategy and on the ground implementation, specifically in countering emerging threats.

McCaul said: “Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said, ‘I see One DHS as a strong, efficient and focused Department—one where all the talents and skills that we possess as individuals and as components come together… in new and exciting ways to serve our missions.’  This is a necessary goal, however the agency continues to be criticized for excessive bureaucracy, waste, ineffectiveness and lack of transparency that have hindered its operations and wasted taxpayer dollars.  Unless we fix these types of problems, we will continue to see failures in DHS programs such as the Secure Border Initiative virtual fence, where in the end taxpayers received little, if any, return on a $1 billion investment.  Tomorrow, we begin a series of hearings addressing the challenges DHS faces.  This first hearing examines the DHS strategy and its implementation to counter emerging threats.”

What:                 Subcommittee Hearing on “Is DHS Effectively Implementing a Strategy to                                            Counter Emerging Threats?”

When:                 10 a.m., Friday, February 3, 2012

Where:                311 Cannon House Office Building

                           **Live video feed will be available HERE

Opening statements, witness testimony, and the live video feed will be available online HERE. 

Witness List:

Panel I

The Honorable Paul Schneider
Principal
The Chertoff Group

Ms. Sharon L. Caudle, PhD
The Bush School of Government and Public Service
Texas A&M University

Panel II

Mr. Shawn Reese
Analyst
Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy
Congressional Research Service

Mr. David Maurer
Director
Homeland Security and Justice Team
Government Accountability Office

Mr. Alan Cohn
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Office of Policy
Department of Homeland Security

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