Committee InfoDescriptionFirst created in 1921 to oversee government expenditure, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs now serves as the chief oversight committee for the United States Senate as a whole. The committee has broad jurisdiction and a fair amount of power, as it supersedes the jurisdiction of several other Senate committees by virtue of its unique position as a monitor for intergovernmental relations. The committee also controls the entirety of the Department of Homeland Security save for a few departments (i.e. Secret Service) which are under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch. In recent years the committee has been responsible for enacting the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, coordinating Hurricane Katrina relief, and the Food and Emergency Assistance program. With the current "War on Terror" in full swing, the committee has also passed legislation that affects how domestic security can learn and benefit from issues dealt with overseas. In 2009, the committee helped pass into law a bill to provide additional personnel authorities for the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.In addition to its oversight responsibilities, the committee deals with complicated security scenarios that threaten our homeland. For example, the Committee recently approved The Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2009, which provides a comprehensive framework for preventing and preparing for biological and other WMD attacks through heightening U.S. and international lab security, strengthening intelligence and bioforensics, improving the information provided to citizens, and enhances emergency responders' safety, and distributing countermeasures to victims. This is just one example of the myriad of domestic security issues that fall under the jurisdiction of this committee. Beyond issues of national security, the committee is also responsible for monitoring government affairs. Legislation arises on such domestic issues as corporate management and concerns regarding the District of Columbia (including voting, budget, and other D.C. governmental affairs). In addition, the committee handles matters of government energy usage, environmental oversight, and government ethics and transparency. In light of the recent economic crisis, this committee has also dealt with bills on providing supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, science, assistance to the unemployed, and State and local fiscal stabilization. Below are some examples of current legislation pending before the Committee: o A bill to provide additional personnel authorities for the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction o Natural Disaster Fairness in Contracting Act of 2009 o FEMA Accountability Act of 2009 Be sure to check out the Committee's official website at www.hsgac.senate.gov for more information and to get ideas for writing legislation. -------------------- Hello! My name is Jay Fiddelman, and I'm a senior in the Engineering School. I'm majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Political Science, and I'll be going to law school next year. I've been doing Model Congress for a long time - I first attended PENNMC 2004 as a sophomore at Mamaroneck High School in NY, and I have been involved in every PENNMC since then. This year, I am Vice President of Penn Model Congress, and I am also a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. Feel free to shoot me an email at jfidd@seas.upenn.edu to ask for help on debate procedure or writing your bills, or to just say hi. See you at PENNMC 2010! Chairs
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Account LoginConference DatesMarch 31 - April 3, 2011 RegistrationRegistration is now closed. InformationClick here for more details about PENNMC 2011! Check us out on Facebook!
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