A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to plan to regularly reauthorize, reform and improve the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the 115th Congress and beyond was signed by all chairmen of committees with jurisdiction over DHS yesterday.
The department has not been reauthorized since its creation in 2002. Since then, said to MOU announcement, the threat environment has evolved, but DHS has not kept pace. Further, the sprawling nature of DHS jurisdiction in the House has meant that opportunities to fix it have not been fully realized. This landmark agreement allows the Homeland Security Committee to coordinate the reauthorization, reform and improvement effort, and it demonstrates the firm commitment of House Committees and House Leadership to better secure America.”
House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mike McCaul R-TX) said, “We are finally on a solid path to overhaul the Department of Homeland Security and make sure it stays ahead of threats to our country. I am pleased that the committee chairmen with jurisdiction over DHS have come together—for the first time—and formally agreed on a path forward to comprehensively reauthorize the Department in the 115th Congress and beyond. This agreement is just what Americans need to see happening in Washington to have more confidence in our nation’s security. I look forward to working hand-in-hand with my colleagues in the House, the Senate and the new administration to reauthorize DHS and ensure it is equipped to protect the United States and our people more effectively, efficiently, and decisively.”
Details can be read here.
