Hearing Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science, and Technology of the Committee on Homeland Security: the Proposed Fiscal Year 2006 Budget
Hearing Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science, and Technology of the Committee on Homeland Security: the Proposed Fiscal Year 2006 Budget
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Mr. McCaul. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
First, I want to thank the administration for moving towards a risk-based formula. I think that was a step in the right direction. I worked in counterterrorism with the Justice Department in the Western District of Texas for a while. I think that is certainly the right approach.
I had a question, though, about the UASI grant money. Is that also going to be allocated on a risk-based formula, or is that just going to remain with the top 50 metropolitan areas?
Mr. Mayer. Yes, Congressman McCaul, the UASI program identifies the top 50 areas, but it is based on a risk-threat formula that includes population, population density, presence of critical infrastructure, open investigative work by the FBI, and the ICE, our own Customs folks. So it is a formula that we designate that then determines what are the top 50 cities that then get funded through that program, so it is based on risk.
Mr. McCaul. I would remiss if I did not raise my home town, that is Austin, Texas, which is the capital of the President's home state. There was a recent Pakistani that was arrested and charged with making false statements. He took pictures of the historical landmarks, including the Mansfield Dam. In my view, that is a city with a major risk factor, a major one, and I would ask that the administration take another look at that in their funding calculus.
Lastly, I wanted to talk about the Joint Terrorism Task Force. I had a lot of experience with them. I think it is a great way to get various levels of law enforcement together working as a team. Sometimes you have turf battles, but I was curious with the formation of DHS how they are coordinating with the Joint Terrorism Task Force?
Mr. Mayer. It is my understanding that the coordination is going well. You know, there are always again the hurdles of getting through the various issues of territory, but I think they are doing a good job and they are advancing on their mission.
Mr. McCaul. Are they fully participating? I know sometimes the FBI is sort of viewed as the lead agency, although sometimes they try not to be. Sometimes they try to be. Is there a problem, you think, with the coordination, or do you think they are fully integrated at this point?
Mr. Mayer. I do not have the level of detail to actually answer that.
Mr. McCaul. I understand. It is not a funding question.
Lastly on the regional offices, I think again those are
great things for advancing the ball on homeland security. Does the administration intend to expand regional offices to areas like my state and other large states?
Mr. Mayer. I think we are going to establish regional offices. I am not sure they have decided where and to what level those will be staffed. I think that is still in the formative stage.
Mr. McCaul. Okay. If you get an answer to that, let me know. I would be interested in that.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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