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Homeland Security


Department of Homeland Security:
Upton believes that our country must take every necessary step to enhance its national security. It is for this reason that he cosponsored legislation establishing a Department of Homeland Security. Prior to this landmark legislation, there was no single government agency with homeland security as its primary mission. This groundbreaking legislation passed by the House and the Senate does just that. Creating this unified structure, currently dispersed over more than 100 different organizations, will enhance information sharing, improve efficiency, and most importantly, protect our homeland.

Major Provisions:

  • Immigration – Brings all immigration responsibilities under the Secretary of Homeland Security. Immigration services, however, will be kept separate from enforcement functions within the Department. Reorganization authority included in the legislation cannot be used to merge the two functions. A separate director will be responsible for immigration services.
  • Coast Guard – Strengthens the Coast Guard’s position as a distinct organization within the Department while retaining and performing all current missions. Identifies separate funding for Coast Guard Research and Development activities.
  • Guns in the Cockpit – With slight modifications, the new bill includes H.R. 4635, Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act, to allow pilots to be trained and possess a gun in the cockpit of passenger planes. H.R. 4635 originally passed the House on July 10, 2002, by a vote of 310 to 112.
  • Agriculture – Expands cooperation and coordination within the Department of Agriculture and the Homeland Security Department.

Nuclear Waste: Centralizing all spent nuclear fuel to a federally protected, safe facility isn’t just an environmental concern – it’s a national security concern. That’s why Congressman Upton, in the 103rd – 106th Congresses, wrote and passed the legislation moving dangerous nuclear waste off the shores of Lake Michigan to a federally secured site in the Nevada Desert. Upton lauded the signing of a measure by President George W. Bush that will move dangerous nuclear waste off the shores of Lake Michigan to a federally protected, secure site in the middle of the Nevada desert.

Weapons of Mass Destruction Team: To provide additional security for Southwest Michigan, Congressman Upton led the successful effort to secure a Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team from the Department of Defense. This team will integrate federal, state and local response in the unlikely event of a disaster or terrorist attack. In response to a weapon of mass destruction situation, the Weapons of Mass Destruction - Civil Support Teams (WMD-CSTs) provide a well-trained assessment team to support the State response as a lead element for the National Guard. Their knowledge of the emergency management system, expertise in emergency response operations, and technical capabilities may provide tremendous assistance to the local Incident Commander. WMD terrorism requires rapid response to a suspected or actual terrorist attack. The WMD-CSTs provide assessment of the damage, consultation on logistics, medical, chemical and biological defense, and transmission of the situation to higher headquarters to facilitate follow-on military forces. The WMD-CSTs are available for rapid deployment for WMD response operations.