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 un-
conventional 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 ter-
rorism is the elimination of our freedom and our very
way of life;
Whereas the Administration and Congress recognize that re-
organization of the Government’s homeland security ef-
forts will result in better coordination of these activities
and will increase the security of the Nation;
Whereas the Administration and the Congress are estab-
lishing the Department of Homeland Security to prevent
terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce the vul-
nerability of the United States to terrorism, and mini-
mize the damage and assist the recovery from any at-
tacks that may occur;
Whereas the Department of Homeland Defense will absorb
activities from numerous Federal agencies and depart-
ments, and whereas some of these agencies will retain
nonhomeland security related missions;
Whereas the House of Representatives currently has 14 com-
mittees and 25 subcommittees claiming jurisdiction over
some function of homeland security; and
Whereas the consolidation of legislative and oversight author-
ity related to homeland security in a single standing com-
mittee of the House of Representatives would ensure that
these functions are exercised efficiently; would facilitate
coordination with the new Department of Homeland Se-
curity, and would ensure that the Nation’s homeland se-
curity activities are properly coordinated: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That—
(1) there should be established a standing com-
mittee of the House of Representatives to be known
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as the Committee on Homeland Security (herein-
after in this resolution referred to as the ‘‘Com-
mittee’’);
(2) there should be referred to the Committee
proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials,
and other matters relating to homeland security and
the Department of Homeland Security and the De-
partment’s activities and responsibilities;
(3) the Committee should review and study on
a continuing basis laws, programs, and Government
activities related to homeland security;
(4) the Committee should be composed of mem-
bers as follows:
(A) Members, Delegates or the Resident
Commissioner who are members of other stand-
ing committees, including:
(i) Two Members of the House who
serve on the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices.
(ii) Two Members of the House who
serve on the Committee on Energy and
Commerce.
(iii) Two Members of the House who
serve on the Committee on Financial Serv-
ices.
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(iv) Two Members of the House who
serve on the Committee on the Judiciary.
(v) Two Members of the House who
serve on the Committee on Science.
(vi) Two Members of the House who
serve on the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure.
(vii) Two Members of the House who
serve on the Select Committee on Intel-
ligence.
(B) One Member from the elected leader-
ship of the majority party.
(C) One Member from the elected leader-
ship of the minority party.
(5) There should be established a standing sub-
committee of the Committee on Appropriations, to
be known as the Subcommittee on Homeland Secu-
rity.
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