IV

107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. RES. 481

Providing a sense of the House of Representatives that a standing Committee

on Homeland Security should be established.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 11, 2002

Mr. RYUN of Kansas submitted the following resolution; which was referred

to the Committee on Rules

RESOLUTION

Providing a sense of the House of Representatives that a

standing Committee on Homeland Security should be

established.

Whereas terrorists connected with al Queda and Usama Bin

Laden attacked the United States on September 11,

2001;

Whereas the attacks of September 11, 2001, were the latest

acts of war against the United States and its interests

by al Queda;

Whereas the United States is now engaged in a new and unconventional war in which our homeland and its citizens

are targeted;
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Whereas the goal of the Nation’s enemies in the war on terrorism is the elimination of our freedom and our very

way of life;

Whereas the Administration and Congress recognize that reorganization of the Government’s homeland security efforts will result in better coordination of these activities

and will increase the security of the Nation;

Whereas the Administration and the Congress are establishing the Department of Homeland Security to prevent

terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism, and minimize the damage and assist the recovery from any attacks that may occur;

Whereas the Department of Homeland Defense will absorb

activities from numerous Federal agencies and departments, and whereas some of these agencies will retain

nonhomeland security related missions;

Whereas the House of Representatives currently has 14 committees and 25 subcommittees claiming jurisdiction over

some function of homeland security; and

Whereas the consolidation of legislative and oversight authority related to homeland security in a single standing committee of the House of Representatives would ensure that

these functions are exercised efficiently; would facilitate

coordination with the new Department of Homeland Security, and would ensure that the Nation’s homeland security activities are properly coordinated: Now, therefore,

be it

1 Resolved, That—

2 (1) there should be established a standing com3 mittee of the House of Representatives to be known
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1 as the Committee on Homeland Security (herein2 after in this resolution referred to as the ‘‘Com3 mittee’’);

4 (2) there should be referred to the Committee

5 proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials,

6 and other matters relating to homeland security and

7 the Department of Homeland Security and the De8 partment’s activities and responsibilities;

9 (3) the Committee should review and study on

10 a continuing basis laws, programs, and Government

11 activities related to homeland security;

12 (4) the Committee should be composed of mem13 bers as follows:

14 (A) Members, Delegates or the Resident

15 Commissioner who are members of other stand16 ing committees, including:

17 (i) Two Members of the House who

18 serve on the Committee on Armed Serv19 ices.

20 (ii) Two Members of the House who

21 serve on the Committee on Energy and

22 Commerce.

23 (iii) Two Members of the House who

24 serve on the Committee on Financial Serv25 ices.
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1 (iv) Two Members of the House who

2 serve on the Committee on the Judiciary.

3 (v) Two Members of the House who

4 serve on the Committee on Science.

5 (vi) Two Members of the House who

6 serve on the Committee on Transportation

7 and Infrastructure.

8 (vii) Two Members of the House who

9 serve on the Select Committee on Intel10 ligence.

11 (B) One Member from the elected leader12 ship of the majority party.

13 (C) One Member from the elected leader14 ship of the minority party.

15 (5) There should be established a standing sub16 committee of the Committee on Appropriations, to

17 be known as the Subcommittee on Homeland Secu18 rity.

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