House homeland security panel holds first meeting

The nine-member ad hoc House select committee for homeland security met informally Friday for the first time to discuss the timing and process for moving President Bush's proposal.

House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, who is chairing the panel, described its members--five Republicans and four Democrats--as "enthusiastically bipartisan," but added the closed breakfast session produced no decisions.

Armey said the panel would meet officially next week and would try to move legislation to the floor the week of July 21.

House Minority Whip Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the committee had to determine how to conduct major government restructuring in "the smartest possible way in the shortest possible time."

Meanwhile, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge met Friday at the White House with a group of labor officials, led by Teamsters President James Hoffa, to outline Bush's proposal for a new Homeland Security Department.

Hoffa said he is supportive of the principles underlying Bush's approach, but he indicated the union would not be lobbying the issue on Capitol Hill.