Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to step up disaster preparedness scrutiny

US Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., has announced the formation of two new, ad hoc subcommittees for the 110th Congress to reflect the expanded homeland security jurisdiction of the Committee.

In addition to the Committee’s three longstanding subcommittees, two new ones will focus exclusively on homeland security issues. The Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery, chaired by Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., with the Ranking Member expected to be Senator Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, will look into issues related to the government’s work helping communities recover from disasters in general and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in particular. The Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration, chaired by Senator Mark Pryor, D-Ark., with Senator John Sununu, R-N.H., in the Ranking position, will oversee Department of Homeland Security efforts relating to state and local fusion centers, state and local law enforcement grants, and integration of private sector efforts to prepare for and respond to emergencies.

“I have established two new subcommittees to more adequately reflect the expanded responsibilities of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee,” Senator Lieberman said. “Our existing subcommittees have produced excellent work on issues of central importance to our homeland security, but the Committee structure as it now stands has no subcommittees that focus primarily on homeland security.”

•Date: 30th January 2007 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: Emergency planning
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