Combating Terrorism: Comments on H.R. 525 to Create a President's Council on Domestic Terrorism Preparedness

• NCJ Number: 188555
• Author(s): Raymond J. Decker
• Date Published: May 2001
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: US Government Accountability Office
• Sale Source: US Government Accountability Office; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislative Hearing/Committee Report
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Testimony before the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives. Downloaded May 14, 2001

Annotation

These comments to a congressional subcommittee focused on the General Accounting Office’s analysis of legislation to create a new President’s Council on Domestic Terrorism Preparedness to coordinate and increase the effectiveness of Federal efforts to assist State and local emergency response personnel in preparing for domestic terrorism.

Abstract

The comments expressed agreement with the basic purpose of H.R. 525 and with general actions required by the legislation. The discussion notes that similar proposals that create a single focal point for terrorism place the focal point either in the Executive Office of the President, as does H.R. 525, or in a Lead Executive Agency. Both locations have potential advantages and disadvantages. However, no consensus exists in Congress, the Executive Branch, the various commissions, or the organizations representing first responders regarding the location of the focal point. The discussion concludes that developing such a consensus is an important task and that this hearing and subsequent debates will help reach that consensus. Footnotes