A Look Ahead: House Committee on Homeland Security -- hearings on intelligence sharing, FEMA 2013 budget, DHS management
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the following upcoming Committee events:
Tuesday, February 28
10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 28, in 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence
Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-PA), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
The Honorable Louis F. Quijas
Assistant Secretary
Office for State and Local Law Enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
The Honorable Scott McAllister
Deputy Under Secretary
State and Local Program Office
Office of Intelligence and Analysis
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Eric Velez-Villar
Assistant Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Department of Justice
Chairman Meehan on the hearing:
“In the 10 years since 9/11, the country has witnessed the establishment and substantial growth of a national network of fusion centers established to share information related to terrorist attacks and natural disasters, and serve as vital points of information exchange between Federal agencies and State and local governments.
“While the terrorist threat was the impetus for the establishment of fusion centers, there has been a marked shift in their mission from counterterrorism to an “all crimes, all hazards” law enforcement approach. On many levels, this appears to be appropriate as these state-run entities are often tasked with providing a comprehensive view of a broad set of criminal, disaster response, and infrastructure protection issues to federal, state, local and tribal customers. However, as fusion centers have evolved away from a purely counterterrorism mission, it is important to examine the role of federal funding in their mission and the value fusion centers provide, especially in the current environment of budget uncertainty and fiscal belt-tightening.
“At this hearing, we will survey the fusion center’s role in facilitating the transfer of critical information with the FBI, Joint Terrorism Task Forces and federal, state, local and tribal entities, and their effectiveness in ‘connecting the dots.’ We will also examine DHS’s evolving role in the fusion center mission moving forward.”
Wednesday, February 29
10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 29, in 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Chairman
Invited Witness Includes:
The Honorable Richard Serino
Deputy Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Department of Homeland Security
Chairman Bilirakis on the hearing:
"This hearing will continue the Subcommittee's oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency by providing Members with an opportunity to examine the President's Fiscal Year 2013 budget request and explore ways we can continue to enhance our emergency preparedness and response capabilities through the efficient and effective use of taxpayer dollars."
Thursday, March 1
Subcommittee Hearing: Building One DHS: Why Can't Management Information be Integrated?
10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 1, in 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
The Honorable Rafael Borras
Under Secretary for Management
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. David Maurer
Director
Homeland Security and Justice Team
Government Accountability Office
Mr. Charles K. Edwards
Acting Inspector General
Department of Homeland Security
Chairman McCaul on the hearing:
“Nearly a decade after the Department of Homeland Security was created, its agencies that thwart terrorist attacks by protecting air travelers, securing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws continue to operate in vacuums with vast duplication of administrative functions. Because of this, DHS management integration continues to be on the Government Accountability Office's High Risk list for waste, fraud, abuse or in need of broad reform. Integrating basic management information is necessary to effectively run any large organization. Industry has demonstrated, through mergers and acquisitions, management information integration can be accomplished effectively. Without it, it is impossible for any manager, either government or private corporation, to conduct oversight, prevent duplicative programs, save taxpayer dollars or effectively carry out the organization's mission – in this case protecting the American people. Although Secretary Napolitano has said she wants to build "One DHS," without integrating core management functions a “One DHS” will not happen, and equally important taxpayer dollars will be wasted.”
Tuesday, March 6
10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 6, in 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security
Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI), Chairman
Witnesses To Be Announced
2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 6, in 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies
Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA), Chairman
Witnesses To Be Announced
Thursday, March 8
10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 8, in 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chairman
Witnesses To Be Announced
***See www.homeland.house.gov for updates.
***Coverage note: All Committee on Homeland Security proceedings are webcast live at www.homeland.house.gov/live-video-feed.
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