A Look Ahead: House Committee on Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. (Monday, July 11, 2011) – Today, U.S. Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the following upcoming Committee events:
Tuesday, July 12
Protecting the Maritime Borders -- Leveraging Law Enforcement Cooperation to Enhance Security Along America’s Coasts
10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 12 in 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security
Rep. Candice Miller (MI), Chairman
INVITED WITNESSES INCLUDE:
Mr. Michael C. Kostelnik
Assistant Commissioner
Office of CBP Air and Marine
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Department of Homeland Security
Rear Admiral Paul F. Zukunft
Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety
Security and Stewardship
United States Coast Guard
Sheriff Tim Donnellon
St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office
Michigan
Chairman Miller on the hearing:
“Our hearing on July 12th will focus on the relationship between all levels of law enforcement in the maritime environment in the post-9/11 era. For example, we will look at how local first responders, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and Canadian partners assist in helping to secure the international waterways, such as through the Shiprider program or the use of law enforcement centers like the Operational Integration Center at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan and the USCG’s Interagency Operation Centers. In addition, we will discuss the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) recent unveiling of the Maritime Operations Coordination plan to enhance DHS’s coordination capabilities for maritime operations among the USCG, CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when responding to threats against the U.S. and its interests. Adequate security along the Nation’s coasts is vital to ensure the free flow of commerce and my intent is to encourage all levels of government to cooperate to facilitate that commerce while enhancing our security.”
Subcommittee Hearing: Industry Perspectives: Authorizing the Transportation Security Administration for FY 2012 and 2013
2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12 in 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Transportation Security
Rep. Mike Rogers (AL), Chairman
INVITED WITNESSES INCLUDE:
Mr. Tom Farmer
Assistant Vice President
Security Safety & Operations
Association of American Railroads
Mr. Martin Rojas
Vice President
Security & Operations
American Trucking Association
Ms. Wanda Dunham
Chief of Police and Emergency Management
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
Mr. Raymond Reese
Corporate Health, Safety and Security Leader
Colonial Pipeline Company
*testifying on behalf of the Association of Oil Pipe Lines
Mr. Mark Van Tine
President and Chief Executive Officer
Jeppesen
*testifying on behalf of General Aviation Manufacturers Association
Mr. Nicholas E. Calio
President & Chief Executive Officer
Air Transport Association
Mr. Steve Alterman
President
Cargo Airline Association
Chairman Rogers on the hearing:
“The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) relies on a large and diverse group of public and private sector partners to fulfill its mission of protecting our Nation’s transportation systems. This hearing will continue our Subcommittee’s oversight by giving TSA’s industry partners an opportunity to voice their insights as to how a TSA authorization bill can improve overall transportation security, enhance the effectiveness and impact of TSA’s transportation security initiatives, and address any inefficiencies that may exist.
“This hearing will allow us to communicate directly with representatives from the rail, trucking, mass transit, pipeline and aviation industries, and understand from their perspective, the improvements TSA can make in its efforts to secure all modes of transportation.
“I look forward to an open dialogue that will allow those industry partners that interact with TSA on a daily basis the ability to inform the Subcommittee’s continued development of a TSA authorization bill.”
Wednesday, July 13
Subcommittee Hearing: Securing Federal Facilities: Challenges of the Federal Protective Service and the Need For Reform
10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13 in 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies
Rep. Daniel E. Lungren (CA), Chairman
INVITED WITNESSES INCLUDE:
Mr. L. Eric Patterson
Director
Federal Protective Service, NPPD
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Mark L. Goldstein
Director of Physical Infrastructure Issues
Government Accountability Office
Mr. Stephen D. Amitay
Federal Legislative Counsel
National Association of Security Companies
Mr. David Wright, President
National Federal Protective Service Union
American Federation of Government Employees
Chairman Lungren on the hearing:
“The Federal Protective Service (FPS) is a vital component of our Nation’s homeland security. Securing government buildings is the mission of FPS and is critical to protecting hundreds of thousands of government employees and the day-to-day operations of the Federal Government. Our hearing will examine several perennial problems which have impacted the FPS mission. One of these problems appears to be poor management by the Department, as highlighted by its plans to once more reorganize the Directorate where FPS is assigned. If completed, the reorganization of NPPD would be the 3rd reorganization FPS has been involved in since leaving GSA and joining DHS in 2003.”
Friday, July 15
Subcommittee Hearing: Homeland Security Contracting: Does the Department Effectively Leverage Emerging Technologies?
10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 15 in 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management
Rep. Michael T. McCaul (TX), Chairman
INVITED WITNESSES INCLUDE:
Mr. Charles K. Edwards
Acting Inspector General
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Rafael Borras
Under Secretary for Management and
Chief Acquisition Officer
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Henry Gonzalez
Director
Acquisition Support & Operations Analysis
Science and Technology Directorate
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Marc Pearl
President and CEO
Homeland Security & Defense Business Council
Mr. Jim Williams
Vice Chair
Homeland Security Committee
TechAmerica
Chairman McCaul on the hearing:
"As an oversight committee, our job is to help reduce the cost of government. When it comes to protecting our homeland, whether it's securing our borders or screening for explosives at our airports, this hearing will examine if the Department of Homeland Security leverages existing technologies to accomplish its mission or needlessly spends millions of taxpayer dollars reinventing the wheel. The Department has already spent millions of dollars developing new technologies only to find there are adequate off-the-shelf technologies that could accomplish the same objectives. We must streamline the DHS contracting process, find technologies that work and reduce burdens on the taxpayer."
***See www.homeland.house.gov for updates.
***Coverage note: All Committee on Homeland Security hearings are webcast live at www.homeland.house.gov.
###