Senate committee revamp said to fall short of 9/11 panel recommendations

A new Senate resolution to overhaul supervision of the Homeland Security Department falls short of the 9/11 commission's recommendation to consolidate authority over DHS, critics say, and obscures larger questions about the agency's management and performance.

Last week, the Senate approved a resolution to transform the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee into the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The reorganization placed oversight of most, but not all, homeland security activities in the new panel.

In its report issued in July, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States called current congressional oversight of intelligence and counterterrorism "dysfunctional." It cited one expert witness who said DHS' legislative obstacles, which include reporting to 88 committees and subcommittees of Congress, were the biggest roadblock to the department's success.

Carl DeMaio, president of the Performance Institute, a think tank that studies government management, said the priorities of the Governmental Affairs Committee, which include overseeing such areas as human resources and financial management across government, may be overlooked under the new organizational scheme.

"If I rename my committee Homeland Security, what do you think I'm going to focus on? Homeland security, not governmental affairs issues. We risk losing sight of management issues, and Congress has to remain engaged in that," said DeMaio.

He urged the Governmental Affairs Committee to evaluate technology, procurement and workforce issues for all federal agencies, which he fears won't happen if the committee shifts its focus to Homeland Security.

Some legislators criticized the Senate for failing to follow a commission recommendation to give both authorization and appropriations authority to the Senate Intelligence Committee. "The Senate rejected a key recommendation of the commission," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in a written statement. The resolution takes only "modest steps," she added.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., who along with Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., is leading House efforts to implement the commission's recommendations, said her colleagues should treat the proposal to reorganize Congress with more urgency. "While the Senate didn't do everything the commission recommended, at least they acted, had a full, fair debate and voted on proposals, unlike the House, which seems to be cemented in its Sept. 10 mind frame," she said.

Other critics said the reorganization effort did not focus on the most important issues. "Congress shouldn't get wrapped up focusing on who should conduct oversight," said Adrian Moore, vice president of the Reason Public Policy Institute, a think tank based in Los Angeles. The more important challenge, he said, is measuring whether or not DHS is protecting the country and deciding how to hold the agency accountable.