Congressional Columns

Rep. Jim Langevin

The security of our federal and critical infrastructure networks is an issue of national security and has been a priority of mine for a number of years now. The United States and its allies face a significant and growing threat to our information technology systems and assets, and to the integrity of our information. Learn More.

Chairman Bennie G. Thompson

New Legislation Proposes Greater Use of Biometric Technology to Improve Airport Security
By Chairman Bennie G. Thompson

In the last few months, the Transportation Security Administration has unveiled several new programs and initiatives that are proving to build a "layered approach" to security. Learn More

Rep. Mike Folmer

REAL ID Is the Wrong Answer
By State Sen. Mike Folmer (R-48)

In response to recommendations of the 9-11 Commission, Congress passed — and President Bush signed into law — the REAL ID Act of 2005, which mandates that states convert citizens' driver's licenses into a national ID card. Learn More

Rep. David Price

OPENING STATEMENT, Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff Hearing
By Rep. David Price (NC-04)

Mr. Secretary, welcome. It is a pleasure to have you testify before the Subcommittee today. We thank you for your dedicated service to our nation. Learn More.

Rep. Elijah Cummings

TWIC Implementation
By Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD)

As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, I have led the Subcommittee in examining the roll-out of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential, more commonly known as the TWIC card, since January 2007, when I assumed the Chairmanship. Learn More.

Rep. Bob Etheridge

DHS Should Not Ignore School Bus Safety
By Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC)

As the only former state schools chief serving in Congress, I know first hand how important it is to ensure that our children's travel to and from school is safe and secure. Learn More.

Rep. Michael A. Arcuri

Keeping Seniors Safe
By Rep. Michael A. Arcuri (D-NY)

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 2,800 fires are reported per year in nursing homes — or roughly one for every six nursing homes. As businesses and individuals committed to enhanced safety, you know as well as anyone that we must make sure our seniors are protected from fire right where they live. Learn More.

Sen. Ben Cardin

Small Businesses Need Greater Access to Federal Contracts
By Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD)

Small business owners in Maryland are in a unique position. Because of our close proximity to the Nation's Capital, many of them should have better opportunities for federal contracts. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Too many barriers exist for small, minority and women-owned businesses to do business with the federal government. Learn More.

Rep. Mark Souder

Why We Need IDs with Biometric Indicators
By Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN)

No set of fingerprints is alike. And that's a good thing. By incorporating biometric indicators into our nation's identification systems-and thus leveraging the unique nature of every human being-we can better secure our borders and stay ahead of terrorists and criminals. Learn More.

US Rep Edolphus Towns

Technology For Secure Id Cards
By U.S. Representative Edolphus Towns

The hearing held on October 18th examined ways to make a secure identification card. On issues such as identity theft, immigration, and homeland security, there have been repeated calls for a secure or tamper-proof ID. However, a lot of this discussion has been short on details. How do you make an ID tamper-proof? What is the tradeoff between security and privacy? And how much is all this going to cost? It was our goal to answer some of those questions. Learn More.

Rep. Michael McCaul

Protecting Ourselves in the Cyber World
By Rep. Michael McCaul

Today, just about anything you do involve computers and the internet. When you go to the bank, use your cell phone, deal with any healthcare issues and of course when you use your computer, you rely on the internet and therefore our federal government's ability to protect that system. Learn More.

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman

A National Strategy for CCTV: Keeping an Eye on the Future
By Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, Chairman, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Closed circuit television (CCTV) use in the United States is rapidly expanding and we must make sure that future use is both effective and appropriate. Long a basic element of private security systems, CCTV is now being quickly adopted for homeland security applications. Learn More.

Sen. James M. Inhofe

Inhofe Works to Strengthen Security at Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities Across the Country
Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-OK)

I was pleased to be joined by Senators David Vitter (R-LA), Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) and Wayne Allard (R-CO) in introducing S. 1968, The Water Security Act of 2007. This legislation builds on proposals that have passed the Committee on Environment and Public Works in each of the past two Congresses. Learn More.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn

No Visa without a Visa
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)

The immigration bill that would give amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants may be dormant in the Senate for the time being, but the debate over this hot-button issue is far from over. Learn more.

Rep. Ron Lewis

Tax Incentive Will Promote Greater Security for Agricultural Businesses
By Rep. Ron Lewis (KY-02)

The security of our nation's chemical, food processing and storage facilities has been subject to increased attention in recent years by the Federal government, media and general public. Pesticides and fertilizers, while important to farmers and agricultural businesses, can also be used as agents for manufacturing illegal drugs such as methamphetamine. Learn more.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter

Transportation and Railway Security
By Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO)

As a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I take the safety of the United States very seriously, and am in full support of protecting the infrastructure of our country. The security of the United States and its citizens is not an issue aligned to one side of the aisle in Congress; it must be a collaborative effort. Learn More.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney

Congressional Column
By Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)

Every year, the federal government doles out hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to contractors. These contractors provide an array of important services, from security to data management, that help keep our government up and running. Learn More.

Rep. Vito Fossella

Protecting College Students from Dormitory Fires
Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY)

Parents already have enough to worry about when their children go off to college without having to fear for their safety in the event of a fire. While its common sense that fire detectors and sprinklers save lives, in too many cases college dorms do not offer students the most comprehensive protection possible. Learn More.

Rep. Wally Herger

Withholding Provision for Contractors
Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA)

Nobody likes paying taxes. But despite our dislike of them, most Americans pay their fair share of taxes and do so on time. This is a critically important point because our tax code doesn't make it easy to pay taxes. In fact, taxpayers spend thousands of hours and hundreds of millions of dollars each year simply to comply with our complex, confusing and overly burdensome system of taxes. Learn More.

Rep. Daniel Lungren

Rail Security
Rep. Daniel Lungren
Several weeks ago, Congress considered the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007, a bill I have cosponsored. My colleagues and I have worked on this bill for some time. We started in the last Congress, holding hearings in an effort to obtain information from both the public and private sectors as to the need for additional rail security. Learn More.

Rep. Christopher P. Carney

Improving Procurement Efforts at the Department of Homeland Security
By Rep. Christopher P. Carney

Even before being elected, I was extremely concerned about the fraud, abuse and waste of taxpayer money that plagues our government. As Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight, I take my oversight role of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) very seriously. Learn More.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis

Biometric Identifiers Can Prove to Be Vital to Our Nation's Maritime Security
By Rep. Gus Bilirakis

One of the greatest threats to the safety and security of the American people is the penetration of our vast maritime borders by those who wish to conduct terrorist attacks against the United States. Learn More.

Tom Davis

Breaking the Security Clearance Logjam
By Rep. Tom Davis

Pity those who need a security clearance these days. Pity even more those who need to hire people with clearances to do critical work on contracts involving classified programs or technology. Learn More.

Bennie G. Thompson

Improvements for the SAFETY Act
House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson

The Support for Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002 (the SAFETY Act) [provides incentives for the development and deployment of anti-terrorism technologies for homeland security. Learn More.