House panel to debate homeland security authorization bill

The House Homeland Security Committee plans to debate its authorization bill for the Homeland Security Department late next week, according to a panel member.

"We're having a 24-hour session next Friday," the lawmaker said. Committee Chairman Christopher Cox, R-Calif., has not introduced his panel's first-ever authorization measure but is said to be "within days" of doing so. The Republicans and Democrats on the panel met separately this week to discuss their strategies for Friday's meeting.

The lawmaker's prediction of a lengthy debate over the legislation forecasts a showdown between Republicans and Democrats. Cox and committee ranking Democrat Jim Turner of Texas negotiated on the bill for months but could not reach agreement on several provisions.

Democrats attempted to publicly persuade their Republican colleagues to support more substantive language, introducing a slew of bills on port, aviation and rail security, among other items. While the tactic failed to influence the drafting of the measure, Democrats could offer the provisions as amendments during Friday's action, sparking a heated and drawn-out session.

The two sides negotiated on a number of security issues in the bill, such as intelligence gathering, management, cybersecurity and other technology provisions, according to a draft of the bill circulated last week. Cox also worked behind the scenes to consult with committee chairmen who share jurisdictional responsibility for homeland security issues.

While Cox appears to have reached deals with certain chairmen, he could find common ground on transportation security issues. And Cox's original plan to debate the bill last month was delayed partly because of stalled negotiations with the House Transportation and Infrastructure, which one committee aide called the "most difficult" panel.

Alaska Republican Don Young, the chairman of that committee, has publicly expressed disdain for Cox's panel and its legislative efforts. He has vowed to weigh in on Cox's authorization measure. "That bill is coming to my committee," he said.

With time running out in this year's legislative session and an election looming, Cox may have decided against including transportation security provisions to avoid giving Young an opportunity to ensnare his bill. But if GOP leadership schedules a House vote on the measure, Cox faces hurdles to protecting the bill from opponents and Democratic-backed provisions.

One Homeland Security official, who has discussed the bill with committee staff, said Cox may "pass it out of committee and claim a victory."

Another strategy would be to include provisions of the bill in separate measures to give the Republican majority several wins on homeland security before the election, sources said. Either way, a House vote may be as far as Cox's power extends.

The chairman met earlier this year with his Senate counterpart on the issue, Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, but she made it clear she does not plan to push a homeland security authorization bill this legislative session.