National Homeland
Security Agency Act
Homeland Security
Strategy Act of 2001

House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure

House Committee on Government Reform

(1) House Committee on Armed Services
(2) House Committee on the Judiciary
(3) House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure

(4) House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

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Table 2. Organizations Combined by H.R. 1158 (the Thornberry bill) in Creating the National

Homeland Security Agency

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Table 3. Comparison of Principal Features of H.R. 525, H.R. 1158, and H.R. 1292

HR 1158 (Thornberry)

HR 1292 (Skelton)

Issue 1: Organization: Federal Point Agency (or Official) and Powers

The President's Council on Domestic
Terrorism Preparedness has broad powers
to (Section 9):

Establish federal domestic
preparedness policy, principally
published in a Domestic Terrorism
Preparedness Plan (Plan) - based on
a risk assessment
implementation plan.

and an annual

Review terrorist attack preparedness
of state and local government every
other year.

Coordinate implementation of national
policy, using broad powers to
recommend changes in organization,
management, resource allocations, and
personnel allocations.

Assess all federal terrorism
preparedness programs to insure
compliance with the national Plan.

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HR. 1158 (Thornberry)

The National Homeland Security Agency
has broad powers to (Section 3):

Plan, coordinate, and integrate
homeland security functions.
Work with state and local
governments and federal executive
agencies.

Provide overall planning guidance to
federal agencies.

Conduct exercise and training
programs.

Develop an annual response plan.

H.R. 1292 (Skelton)

The President (Section 3):

Conducts a comprehensive threat and
risk assessment concerning homeland
security, identifying specific threats
(Section 3).

Develops specific strategies to combat
acts of terrorism and to manage their
consequences.

Identifies federal executive agencies'
roles in providing for homeland
security.

Provides for the selective use of the
Armed Forces without infringing on
traditional civil liberties.

Optimizes use of intelligence assets
and capabilities, including improving
the provision of intelligence to states
and localities.

Augments existing medical response
capability and equipment stockpiles at
all government levels.

Develops a multiyear plan for phased
implementation of the strategy,
including a comprehensive budget.

The National Homeland Security Agency
is the coordinating mechanism for the
development and implementation of policy

development and implementation of policy to combat domestic terrorism. It is