Napolitano sails through confirmation hearing

Janet Napolitano completed her confirmation before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Thursday, drawing praise and vows of support from every member of the committee, including both Republican members. Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-) said that he will move to have Napolitano confirmed by the full Senate as soon as possible after President-elect Obama’s inauguration next week.

FEMA’s relationship to DHS drawing attention and debate

One of the big decisions President-elect Obama will face when his administration takes over DHS is whether to leave FEMA as a part of DHS, or remove it from DHS and make it a cabinet-level agency, as it was before DHS was formed. Members of Congress, stakeholders, and prominent organizations are taking sides on the issue, but it’s not clear yet what stancethe Obama administration will take.

First ever authorization bill for DHS

[VIDEO]
Sens. Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins have introduced the Senate’s first ever authorization bill for the US Department of Homeland Security. The bill would increase authority for several key DHS positions and expand the ranks of several of its agencies.

The Senate DHS Authorization Bill