A Look Ahead: House Committee on Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the following upcoming Committee events:
Tuesday, November 29
9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 29, in the Theatre in Brooks, located at Keystone College, Brooks Hall, College Road, La Plume, Pennsylvania 18440
Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
Mrs. MaryAnn Tierney
Regional Administrator
Region Three
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Department of Homeland Security
Colonel David Anderson
Commander
Baltimore District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Mr. Glenn Cannon
Director
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Ms. Marita C. Wenner
Volunteer Chair
Pennsylvania State Disaster Committee
American Red Cross
Mr. James J. Brozena, P.E.
Executive Director
Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority
Mr. James Good
Owner
Arey Building Supply
Chairman Bilirakis on the hearing:
"This year, the Subcommittee has focused on ensuring that this country has effective preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities at all levels of government, in the private sector, and among individuals and communities. The Subcommittee has assessed the response and recovery efforts to the many storms this country has experienced this year. This hearing will continue those efforts by assessing the impact of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, particularly on hard hit areas in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and considering the lessons learned from those storms so we can continue to enhance our preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities."
Wednesday, November 30
Subcommittee Hearing: Boko Haram - Emerging Threat to the U.S. Homeland
10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 30, in 311 Cannon House Office Building
Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence
Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-PA), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
Dr. Ricardo Laremont
Professor of Political Science and Sociology
Binghamton University, State University of New York
Dr. J. Peter Pham
Director, Michael S. Ansari Africa Center
Atlantic Council of the US
Ms. Lauren Ploch
Africa Analyst
Congressional Research Service
Chairman Meehan on the hearing:
"At this hearing, the Subcommittee will examine the emerging threat to the U.S. homeland posed by the Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram. In late August, a Boko Haram suicide bomber detonated a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device at the UN headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, killing 23 and injuring more than 80. The attack represents a major escalation in targeting and tactics by Boko Haram, which had previously targeted only Nigerian entities. Importantly, the evolution of the group mirrors that of other terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. While some believe Boko Haram will focus only on targets within Nigeria and does not have the intent or capability to strike the U.S. homeland, the same was believed about AQAP and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, before the near fatal attacks over Detroit on Christmas Day 2009 and in Times Square in May 2010. It is critical we examine all potential terrorist threats to the homeland, and I look forward to hearing from an expert panel on what steps the United States should take to ensure Boko Haram does not hit us here."
***See www.homeland.house.gov for updates.
***Coverage note: All Committee on Homeland Security proceedings are webcast live at www.homeland.house.gov/live-video-feed.
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