House creates ad hoc homeland security panel

By a voice vote, the House this afternoon approved a resolution establishing a nine-member ad hoc committee to move through the House President Bush's proposal to create a new Homeland Security Department.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., has tapped House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, to chair the panel and also appointed House Majority Whip Tom DeLay of Texas, Republican Conference Chairman J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, Republican Conference Vice Chairwoman Deborah Pryce of Ohio, and Rep. Rob Portman of Ohio, who chairs the GOP leadership meetings.

For the Democrats, House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., has chosen Minority Whip Nancy Pelosi of California, Democratic Caucus Chairman Martin Frost of Texas, Caucus Vice Chairman Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, who serves in leadership as an assistant to Gephardt.

Armey said that after Bush's proposal is introduced Thursday, the relevant House standing committees would have until July 12 to report their recommendations to the ad hoc committee.

Armey said Hastert would like to schedule a House floor vote the week of July 21.