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The Hart-Rudman Commission, the Advisory Panel to
Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving
Weapons of Mass Destruction (Gilmore Commission) and other
entities have prescribed solutions to the vexing question
of who is in charge of homeland security. The Hart-Rudman
Commission recommends the creation of a National Homeland
Security Agency (NHSA), a Cabinet level agency with responsibility
for planning, coordinating, and integrating various U.S. government
activities involved in homeland security. The Gilmore Commission
advocates the establishment of a National Office for Combating
Terrorism (NOCT) in the Executive Office of the President
with responsibility for the full range of deterring, preventing,
preparing for and responding to international as well as domestic
terrorism. The United States Government Interagency Domestic
Terrorism Concept of Operations determined that no "single
Federal, state or local governmental agency has the capability
or requisite authority to respond independently and mitigate
the consequences" of a terrorist threat or incident.
In May, President Bush announced plans to create a new Office
of National Preparedness at the Federal Emergency Management
Agency. Thus there is considerable debate as to who is in
charge of homeland security.
Suggested
Reading:
Bills
Introduced in the House of Representatives (as of September
2001):
- H.R.
1292 - A Bill to require the President to develop
and implement a strategy for homeland security
- H.R.
1158 - A Bill to establish a National Homeland Security
Agency
- H.R.
525 - A Bill to amend the Robert T.Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide for improved
Federal efforts to prepare for and respond to terrorist
attacks, and for other purposes
President
George Bush directs creation of an Office of National Preparedness.
FEMA News Room, 8 May 2001. http://www.fema.gov/nwz01/nwz01_33.htm
Congressional
Testimony on Domestic Terrorism:
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