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The Department of Homeland Security
I supported the President's decision to create a cabinet level department for Homeland Security. I was, however, initially concerned that the non-cohesive structure and massive size of the department would render it an ineffective bureaucracy. In light of the amorphous and asymmetric threat posed by global terrorism, it is critical that the Department of Homeland Security and the intelligence community at large are configured in a manner which allows them to respond quickly and effectively to new challenges.
On December 17, 2004, the President signed into law the "Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act." This bill includes a number of important provisions including the creation of a new Director of National Intelligence (DNI), immigration reforms, and the development of a National Counterterrorism Center to collect and analyze intelligence. While I had hoped that this bill would give the DNI a cabinet-level position with more control and strict budgetary authority, I believe this legislation is an important step forward and an improvement over our current system.
In order to prevent another terrorist attack on American soil, it is imperative that the security and intelligence apparatuses of our nation operate in lockstep with one another. I am pleased with the improvements that have been made in this regard and will continue to carefully monitor their implementation and progress.
Department of Homeland Security's Websites:
www.dhs.gov
www.ready.gov
Click here to read Senator Shelby's newsletter about homeland security and intelligence reform in the 108th Congress.
Click here to read Senator Shelby's newsletter about protecting the homeland.
Congressional Research Service Issues Briefs
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is part of the legislative branch of the federal government. CRS, which is a department of the Library of Congress, works exclusively as a nonpartisan analytical, research, and reference arm for Congress.
The following files are in PDF format. In order to view these files, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your PC. You can download the free Reader from the following website: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html
For more information on this issue, please view the following CRS report:
Homeland Security Research and Development Funding, Organization, and Oversight.
More information on Senator Shelby's activities regarding terrorism:
Chemical Weapons Disposal at Anniston
Department of Homeland Security
Disability and Military Retirement Benefits