LIEBERMAN CREATES TWO NEW SUBCOMMITTEES TO REFLECT EXPANDED JURISDICTION
Katrina Disaster Spurs Reorganization
WASHINGTON – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., announced the formation of two new, ad hoc subcommittees Wednesday for the 110th Congress to reflect the expanded homeland security jurisdiction of the Committee.
In addition to the Committee’s three longstanding subcommittees, two new ones were formed to focus exclusively on homeland security issues. The Committee established the Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery, chaired by Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., with the Ranking Member expected to be Senator Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, to look into issues related to the government’s work helping communities recover from disasters in general and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in particular. The Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration, chaired by Senator Mark Pryor, D-Ark., with Senator John Sununu, R-N.H., in the Ranking position, was created to oversee Department of Homeland Security efforts relating to state and local fusion centers, state and local law enforcement grants, and integration of private sector efforts to prepare for and respond to emergencies..
“I have established two new subcommittees to more adequately reflect the expanded responsibilities of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee,” the Senator said. “Our existing subcommittees have produced excellent work on issues of central importance to our homeland security, but the Committee structure as it now stands has no subcommittees that focus primarily on homeland security.”
The Chairman also announced the following lineup for the Committee’s existing subcommittees:
Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI)
Senator Levin, Chairman
Senator Coleman, Ranking Minority Member
Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia (OGM)
Senator Akaka, Chairman
Senator Voinovich, Ranking Minority Member
Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security (FFM)
Senator Carper, Chairman
Senator Coburn, Ranking Minority Member