[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20461]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




ACKNOWLEDGING CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BY 
                  MARGIE GILBERT AND DR. JULIE CANEPA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAC THORNBERRY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 30, 2004

  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, one of the biggest challenges for this 
Congress over the past 2 years has been to fulfill our responsibilities 
on homeland security. At the beginning of this Congress, the Speaker 
decided to create a Select Committee on Homeland Security to help get 
the new Department of Homeland Security off to a good start and to 
focus congressional efforts on the many issues related to helping to 
protect our citizens against terrorism.
  Beginning a new committee on such a complex topic would never be 
easy. Doing so within a very limited time was even more difficult. We 
had to have help, and to the good fortune of the House and of the 
country, we got help from some exceptional people.
  I want to take a moment to acknowledge the contributions of two of 
them whose tour of duty on Capitol Hill is ending and to thank them for 
all they have done for me, as a subcommittee chairman on the Select 
Committee, and for the entire Committee. Working with my Legislative 
Director, Kim Kotlar, these two individuals have made enormous 
contributions to the development of the new Department of Homeland 
Security and its vital mission.
  Our subcommittee has had responsibility for cybersecurity and for 
science and technology. To advise us on cybersecurity, we have had the 
assistance of Margie Gilbert. Margie was previously assigned to the 
White House as a director in the Office of Cyberspace Security, 
supporting both the National Security Council and the Office of 
Homeland Security. She dealt with intelligence and domestic protection, 
particularly national-level incident handling and counterterrorism. 
Throughout her DOD career, she has worked as an intelligence liaison 
officer, foreign relations officer, collection systems project leader, 
contracts and budget manager, and supervisor of a microelectronics 
research organization. She completed international business studies at 
University of Copenhagen, has a bachelors degree in computer science 
from the University of Tennessee, and a masters degree in technical 
management from Johns Hopkins University.
  I soon discovered that, in addition to her warm and engaging 
personality, Margie has earned enormous respect from those most 
involved in and most knowledgeable about cybersecurity issues. Success 
in cybersecurity requires a unique partnership of government and 
industry, and Margie has done a great deal to promote that relationship 
so necessary for success. She has guided the subcommittee to the issues 
that matter most. Her deep understanding of the issues and of the 
limitations of some proposed solutions, as well as her personal touch, 
have benefited all who have worked with her, inside and outside of 
government.
  Dr. Julie Canepa has advised the committee on technology issues. 
Julie is a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory. She has a BS in 
chemistry from Saint Mary's College in Indiana and her Ph.D. in 
chemistry is from Arizona State University. Among the many jobs she has 
had at Los Alamos are Program Manager for Environmental Restoration 
Project and Program Manager for the Los Alamos work with the Yucca 
Mountain Project. She has published a number of articles.
  Protecting the American homeland requires the research, development, 
and utilization of technologies. This part of the Department of 
Homeland Security is totally new, and Julie has helped get it off on 
the right foot. The range of technologies and issues associated with 
them is enormous. From communications interoperability to radiological 
detection to vaccines and antidotes, Julie has had to understand not 
only the technology, but also the government and industry processes 
which could bring those technologies into use. In addition to her 
enormous gifts of intellect, she also has a special talent for helping 
others, who may not have her breath and depth of understanding and 
knowledge, feel comfortable with very complex subject matter.
  I recognize that Federal agencies have a difficult time allowing 
significant numbers of employees work in other agencies or in other 
branches of government. However, I believe more strongly than ever that 
our country is well served when those who have a particular expertise 
and perspective are allowed to share that with the legislative branch. 
In the situation of this subcommittee with so much to learn about very 
technical subjects, I simply do not know what the committee or I would 
have done without the benefit of these two exceptional public servants.
  The last 2 years have seen much progress and some frustrations in 
homeland security. We clearly have much left to do. But with the 
continued work of dedicated, talented professionals like Margie Gilbert 
and Julie Canepa, we will be successful. And I have no doubt that these 
two outstanding individuals will continue to contribute to the security 
of the country in many ways and for many years to come.

                          ____________________