Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. press release, June 20, 2002

NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1 407 York Rood, Suit* 304 Lulharvill*, Mary lend 21093 315 Сопл on Housa Office Building Woihinglon, D C 20515 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Henry Fawell Thursday, June 20, 2002 202/225-306 1 Congressman Ehrlich Votes to Establish Homeland Security Committee WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Bob Ehrlich (MD-2) voted this week to establish the Select Committee on Homeland Security. This historic new committee will report to the House of Representatives its recommendations for creating a new Department of Homeland Security. Congressman Ehrlich stated, “Just two weeks after President Bush’s historic address to the nation, the House has taken the first step towards making our communities more secure. Now the committee will begin the critical task of creating a homeland security department that counters the threats of the post 9/1 1 world.” The select committee will include nine members of Congress appointed by the Speaker of the House. The Speaker will designate one member as committee chairman. Once it has submitted recommendations to the entire House on how best to organize the Department of Homeland Security, the committee will cease to exist. The committee’s creation is in response to President Bush’s call for a new Department of Homeland Security. President Bush’s proposal, which represents the largest reorganization of the federal government in sixty years, calls for a cabinet-level department to unite critical agencies under a single mission: protecting America from terrorists. Among these agencies are the Coast Guard, the Border Patrol, the Customs Service, Immigration officials, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Congressman Ehrlich continued, “We are moving quickly to defend our country. We will not stop until we create an efficient department that can detect and combat terrorism worldwide.” ###