The Homeland Security Act of 2002

During the second session of the 107th Congress, the primary focus was on how best to tackle the development of a viable, effective, and accountable terrorism remedy to the nightmare of events on September 11, 2001.

On November 25, 2002, Congress enacted the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (HR 5005, now enrolled as Public Law No: 107-296).

The Homeland Security Act of 2002

The National Strategy for Homeland Security and the Homeland Security Act of 2002 served to mobilize and organize the United States to secure the homeland from terrorist attacks.

The establishment of the Department of Homeland Security was to provide the unifying core for the vast national network of organizations and institutions involved in efforts to secure the United States.

Major components of the Homeland Security Act of 2002

Established the Department of Homeland Security Established a Directorate for Information Analysis

and Infrastructure Protection headed by an Under Secretary for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection

Established a Directorate of Science and Technology headed by an Under Secretary for Science and Technology

Major Components of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Cont.)

Established a Directorate of Border and Transportation Security headed by an Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security

Established a Directorate of Emergency Preparedness and Response headed by an Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response

6 Point Agenda

A six-point agenda for the Department of Homeland Security was developed and announced in July 2006, by Secretary Chertoff to ensure that the Department's policies, operations, and structures are aligned in the best way to address the potential threats – both present and future – that face our nation.

6 Point Agenda

The six-point agenda is structured to guide the department in the near term and result in changes that will: Increase overall preparedness, particularly for catastrophic

events Create better transportation security systems to move people

and cargo more securely and efficiently Strengthen border security and interior enforcement and reform

immigration processes Enhance information sharing with our partners Improve DHS financial management, human resource

development, procurement and information technology Realign the DHS organization to maximize mission performance.

The Department of Homeland Security One the most crucial outcomes of the Homeland

Security Act of 2002 was the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security.

In January 2003, the Department of Homeland Security became the Nation’s 15th and newest Cabinet department, consolidating 22 previously disparate agencies under one unified organization.

Prior to this, no single federal department had homeland security as its primary objective.

The primary mission of the Department is to: Prevent terrorist attacks within the United States; Reduce the vulnerability of the United States to

terrorism; Minimize the damage, and assist in the

recovery, from terrorist attacks that do occur within the United States;

Carry out all functions of entities transferred to the Department, including by acting as a focal point regarding natural and manmade crises and emergency planning;

Primary Mission (cont.)

Ensure that the functions of the agencies and subdivisions within the Department that are not related directly to securing the homeland are not diminished or neglected except by a specific explicit Act of Congress;

Ensure that the overall economic security of the United States is not diminished by efforts, activities, and programs aimed at securing the homeland; and

Monitor connections between illegal drug trafficking and terrorism, coordinate efforts to sever such connections, and otherwise contribute to efforts to interdict illegal drug trafficking.

DHS Organizational Chart

The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet level presidential appointment.

The Secretary is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

DHS Organization

On December 23, 2013, Jeh Charles Johnson was sworn in as the fourth Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

To date, there are approximately 170,000 employees under the Department of Homeland Security.

Major Activities of the DHS

The Department is broadly broken down into Protection and Prevention activities and Preparedness and Response activities.

Protection and Prevention Activities

The following agencies and offices have responsibilities for homeland security: U.S. Coast Guard Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Secret Service U.S. Customs and Border Protection Domestic Nuclear Detection Office Office of Cyber and Telecommunications Chief Medical Officer

Preparedness and Response Activities For the Department of Homeland Security's

Preparedness and Response activities, the following agencies and offices have responsibilities for homeland security: FEMA Directorate for Preparedness Office of Grants and Training U.S. Fire Administration Chief Medical Officer Office of National Capital Region Coordination

Advisory Panels and Committees

There are a variety of panels and committees that advise the Department of Homeland Security and establish direction and policy for the Department.

Homeland Security Advisory Council Provides advice and recommendations to

the Secretary on matters related to homeland security.

The Council is comprised of leaders from state and local government, first responder communities, the private sector, and academia.

National Infrastructure Advisory Council provides advice to the Secretary of

Homeland Security and the President on the security of information systems for the public and private institutions that constitute the critical infrastructure of our nation's economy.

Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee Serves as a source of independent,

scientific and technical planning advice for the Under Secretary for Science and Technology.

Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council was established to facilitate effective

coordination between Federal infrastructure protection programs with the infrastructure protection activities of the private sector and of state, local, territorial and tribal governments.

Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities Was established to ensure that the federal

government appropriately supports safety and security for individuals with disabilities in disaster situations.

DHS Strategic Plan

The Department’s Strategic Plan interprets the National Strategy for Homeland Security and prescribes the vision for our workforce, our stakeholders and the American people.

The Department’s strategic goals and objectives are directly linked to accomplishing the three objectives of the National Strategy: 1) Prevent terrorist attacks within the United States; 2) Reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism; and 3) Minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur.

DHS Strategic Plan

The Department’s Strategic Plan governs the development of strategies, programs and projects, and ultimately is reflected in the Department’s budget.

The plan “reflects the determination of our nation to prevail against terror, to protect our homeland and to create a better world in the process.”

Framework for Homeland Security

The framework for Homeland Security consists of legislation, presidential directives, and national initiatives.

The National Strategy for Homeland Security Following the attacks on September 11, 2001,

the United States government developed the National Strategy for Homeland Security.

The purpose of the Strategy is to mobilize and organize the Nation to secure the U.S. homeland from terrorist attacks.

The National Strategy for Homeland Security Aligns and focuses homeland security functions

into six critical mission areas: intelligence and warning, border and transportation security, domestic counter terrorism, protecting critical infrastructure, defending against catastrophic terrorism, and emergency preparedness and response.

Homeland Security Intelligence and Warning Mission The intelligence and warning mission

creates an intelligence and warning system that can detect terrorist activity before it manifests itself in an attack so that proper preemptive, preventive, and protective action can betaken.

The border and transportation security mission Promotes the efficient and reliable flow of

people, goods, and services across borders, while preventing terrorists from using transportation conveyances or systems to deliver implements of destruction.

The domestic counter terrorism mission authorizes local, state, and federal

agencies to use all legal means—both traditional and nontraditional—to identify, halt, and, where appropriate, prosecute terrorists in the United States.

The Protecting Critical Infrastructure and Key Assets Mission

Will improve protection of the individual pieces and interconnecting systems that make up our critical infrastructure.

Defending Against Catastrophic Terrorism Mission The defending against catastrophic

terrorism mission establishes new approaches, a focused strategy, and a new organization to detect and respond to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear terrorist attacks.

Emergency Preparedness and Response Mission The Emergency Preparedness and

Response mission sets forth initiatives to prepare to minimize the damage and recover from any future terrorist attacks that may occur despite our best efforts at prevention.

Four Foundations of National Strategy for Homeland Security The National Strategy for Homeland Security

also describes four foundations—unique American strengths that cut across all of the mission areas, across all levels of government, and across all sectors of our society. These foundations—law, science and technology, information sharing and systems, andinternational cooperation—provide a useful framework for evaluating our homeland security investments across the federal government.

The National Strategy for the Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets The National Strategy for the Physical Protection

of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets, the Strategy, identifies a clear set of national goals and objectives and outlines the guiding principles that guides the United States' efforts to secure the infrastructures and assets vital to national security, governance, public health and safety, economy, and public confidence.

Critical Infrastructures

America’s critical infrastructure sectors provide the foundation for our national security, governance, economic vitality, and way of life.

Key Assets

Key assets and high profile events are individual targets whose attack—in the worst-case scenarios—could result in not only large-scale human casualties and property destruction, but also profound damage to our national prestige, morale, and confidence.

The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace The National Strategy to Secure

Cyberspace outlines an initial framework for both organizing and prioritizing efforts.

It provides direction to the federal government departments and agencies that have roles in cyberspace security.

The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace It also identifies steps that state and local

governments, private companies and organizations, and individual Americans can take to improve our collective cybersecurity.

The Strategy highlights the role of public private engagement. The document provides a framework for the contributions that we all can make to secure our parts of cyberspace.

Homeland Security Presidential Directives Homeland Security Presidential Directives

are issued by the President on matters pertaining to Homeland Security.

From 2001 – 2009, George Bush signed 26 Home Security Presidential Directives.

First 12 Presidential Directives Homeland Security Presidential Directive-1

SUBJECT: Organization and Operation of the Homeland Security Council Homeland Security Presidential Directive-2

SUBJECT: Combating Terrorism Through Immigration Policies Homeland Security Presidential Directive-3

Homeland Security Advisory System Homeland Security Presidential Directive-4

National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-5

Subject: Management of Domestic Incidents Homeland Security Presidential Directive/Hspd-6

Subject: Integration and Use of Screening Information Homeland Security Presidential Directive/Hspd-7

Subject: Critical Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection Homeland Security Presidential Directive/Hspd-8

Subject: National Preparedness Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-9

Subject: Defense of United States Agriculture and Food Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-10

Biodefense for the 21st Century Homeland Security Presidential Directive/Hspd-11

Subject: Comprehensive Terrorist-Related Screening Procedures Homeland Security Presidential Directive/Hspd-12

Subject: Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors

FEMA and the DHS

On March 1, 2003, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident.

FEMA and the DHS

FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program.