Key Democrat plans series of bills on homeland security
A top member of the House Homeland Security Committee presses its Republican members to pass a strong homeland security authorization bill.
The top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee begins this week to outline an ambitious campaign to improve homeland security by introducing a series of bills he would like written into a bill that would authorize various programs at the Homeland Security Department.
The efforts by Rep. Jim Turner, D-Texas, appear to be designed to put pressure on Chairman Christopher Cox, R-Calif., and other Republicans to produce stronger legislation amid an election year.
In anticipation of debating an authorization measure in late May, Cox wants more feedback from the department on the bill and a national strategy that the committee's majority staff plans to draft and release in upcoming weeks, a senior adviser said. Cox, who has accused Democrats of playing political football with homeland security, also now plans to jump into the political fray.
On Tuesday, Turner plans to file a bill on biodefense, followed by port security legislation Wednesday and an aviation security bill Thursday, a spokeswoman said. Next week, the lawmaker plans to unveil three more bills on chemical security, rail security and technology to allow emergency responders to talk to each other.
Recommendations from a recent report issued by Democratic panel members to strengthen security regulations are likely to appear in Turner's bills, the spokeswoman said.
The biodefense bill would recommend that the administration take steps to prevent future bioterror threats by "reducing the timelines for developing new cures from years to days," according to a Turner release issued Monday.
According to Democratic reports, the bill also may include language to: increase funding for nonproliferation programs for weapons of mass destruction; encourage multination negotiations to secure dangerous pathogens that could be used as weapons in other countries; and authorize more money for public health preparedness.
The port security legislation could include mandates for: tamper-resistant cargo seals and radiation-detection devices; improved inspections of private shipping companies; more detailed information about cargo entering and exiting the country; and better maritime security to prepare and respond to a possible terrorist attack in the nation's ports.
The aviation security bill includes 15 provisions, according to a release obtained by National Journal's Technology Daily. It would:
- Mandate full inspection of all air cargo on passenger planes
- Seek to ensure that foreign passenger and cargo flights have hardened cockpit doors
- Require airport workers to undergo passenger screening and more vigorous background checks;
- Ensure that all aircraft is searched daily for weapons and other dangerous items, and require the department to more quickly purchase electronic baggage-screening devices.