Legislative Background
Recent Action on a Homeland Security Department
On June 6, 2002, the Bush Administration issued its proposal for a new Department of Homeland Security that would combine 22 Federal agencies and about 170,000 Federal employees into a single Cabinet-level entity. As Congress considers the White House proposal, different legislative versions are emerging from the House and Senate. House Action. Representative Dick Armey (TX-R) introduced the President’s proposal on June 24, 2002, as H.R. 5005. The Select Committee on Homeland Security has primary jurisdiction over the bill, which also went to the following committees: Agriculture; Appropriations; Armed Services; Energy and Commerce; Financial Services; Government Reform; Intelligence; International Relations;…