[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 481 Introduced in House (IH)]







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;
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
    Resolved, That--
            (1) there should be established a standing committee of the 
        House of Representatives to be known as the Committee on 
        Homeland Security (hereinafter in this resolution referred to 
        as the ``Committee'');
            (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 Department'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 members as follows:
                    (A) Members, Delegates or the Resident Commissioner 
                who are members of other standing committees, 
                including:
                            (i) Two Members of the House who serve on 
                        the Committee on Armed Services.
                            (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 Services.
                            (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 Intelligence.
                    (B) One Member from the elected leadership of the 
                majority party.
                    (C) One Member from the elected leadership of the 
                minority party.
            (5) There should be established a standing subcommittee of 
        the Committee on Appropriations, to be known as the 
        Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
                                 <all>