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Homeland Security

Homeland security is a single term under which all security efforts to protect the U.S. against terrorist activities would fall.  The term arose after the September 11 attacks, following an extensive alteration of the structure of many U.S. government agencies in 2003 to form the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  The term homeland security is used to refer to the actions of DHS, the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, or the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security.

Homeland security measures include:

  • emergency preparation and response for both terrorism and natural disasters, including volunteer medical, police, emergency management, and fire personnel;
  • domestic intelligence activities;
  • critical infrastructure and perimeter protection;
  • land, maritime, and country border security;
  • aviation and maritime transportation security;
  • bio-defense;
  • catching of radioactive and radiological materials; and
  • research on next-generation security technologies.

 

In fiscal year 2009, and every 4 years thereafter, the secretary of DHS shall conduct a review of the homeland security of the nation.  Such review is called as the quadrennial homeland security review[i].  Each quadrennial homeland security review shall be a comprehensive examination of the homeland security strategy of the nation.  The quadrennial homeland security review shall also include recommendations regarding the long-term strategy and priorities of the nation for homeland security and guidance on the programs, assets, capabilities, budget, policies, and authorities of DHS[ii].

Each quadrennial homeland security review must be prepared in consultation with:

  • the heads of other federal agencies, including the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Director of National Intelligence;
  • the key officials of DHS; and
  • the other relevant governmental and nongovernmental entities, including state, local, and tribal government officials, members of Congress, private sector representatives, academics, and other policy experts.

 

Not later than December 31 of the year in which a quadrennial homeland security review is conducted, the secretary shall submit to Congress a report regarding that quadrennial homeland security review.  Each such report must contain[iii]:

  • a description of the threats to the assumed or defined national homeland security interests of the nation that were analyzed for the purposes of that review;
  • a description of the interagency cooperation, preparedness of federal response assets, infrastructure, budget plan, and other elements of the homeland security program and policies of the nation related with the national homeland security strategy, required to execute successfully the full range of missions called for in the applicable national homeland security strategy and the homeland security mission areas;
  • a discussion of the status of cooperation among federal agencies in the effort to promote national homeland security;
  • a discussion of the status of cooperation between the federal government and state, local, and tribal governments in preventing terrorist attacks and preparing for emergency response to threats to national homeland security;
  • an assessment of the organizational alignment of DHS with the applicable national homeland security strategy and the homeland security mission areas, including the DHS’s organizational structure, management systems, budget and accounting systems, human resources systems, procurement systems, and physical and technical infrastructure;
  • an account of any underlying assumptions used in carrying out the review;
  • the results of the quadrennial homeland security review;
  • the national homeland security strategy, including a prioritized list of the critical homeland security missions of the nation; and
  • any other matter the secretary considers appropriate.

 

[i] 6 USCS § 347(a)(1).

[ii] 6 USCS § 347(a)(2).

[iii] 6 USCS § 347(c)(2).


Inside Homeland Security