Panel approves bill establishing nuclear detection office within DHS
Office would coordinate with Defense, FBI, Energy Department and intelligence agencies on a global detection system.
A House Homeland Security subcommittee adopted Tuesday legislation to create a special office charged with the prevention of nuclear terrorism.
Approved by voice vote, the legislation by the Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack Subcommittee moves to the full committee.
Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack Subcommittee Chairman John Linder, R-Ga., told the panel that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff asked lawmakers to approve the office as a way to streamline the agency's efforts at thwarting the potential for a nuclear attack.
The bill would establish the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, authorized as a separate agency within the Department of Homeland Security. Its mission would be to administer all nuclear and radiological detection and prevention functions of the department.
It also would coordinate the government's implementation of a global nuclear detection system in coordination with the Department of Defense, FBI, Department of Energy, and intelligence agencies. The Office would implement research and development to improve detection nuclear threats and provide support and training for detection operations.
One amendment by Rep. James Langevin, D-R.I., to authorize $316 million to accelerate the implementation of radiation detection at the nation's ports was defeated on a 7-6 roll call. Linder said Langevin's amendment would channel resources from other needed anti-terrorism defenses.