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Fortifying the Future: Assessing the Homeland Security Mission in the Decade Ahead
A discussion between Representative John Katko (R-NY) and Wilson Center President Emerita Jane Harman on how threats to our homeland have evolved since the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in response to the attacks on 9/11.
Overview
Representative John Katko (R-NY), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, joined Wilson Center President Emerita and former Chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment Jane Harman to discuss his vision and priorities to advance the homeland security mission and why it is critical to take a bipartisan approach.
The conversation reflected on how threats to our homeland have evolved since the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in response to the attacks on 9/11.
Selected Quotes
John Katko
鈥淭he issue is the same no matter what in law enforcement, it鈥檚 making sure you exchange information in a timely manner and effective manner, and then you act upon that information. You can only do that when working across lines and working different agencies and getting things done.鈥澛
鈥淭here鈥檚 no question that we鈥檙e a much safer country than we were before 9/11. I think the 9/11 commission was wildly successful, the recommendations were excellent, and the exchange of information and the flow of information is much, much better than it was [鈥 January 6th was definitely a breakdown in communications but it wasn鈥檛 from a lack of developing that information [鈥 I think we need鈥攆or January 6th鈥攊s another 9/11-style commission to go back and see from the Capitol standpoint, how did we fail, what can we do better, and how can we make sure this doesn鈥檛 happen again.鈥
鈥淧eople always think about foreign incursions as someone coming into this country 鈥攕pies or terrorists or whatever鈥攂ut they鈥檙e able to do that from the strength and comfort of their own homes, own offices, their own places around the world. Losing our strategic advantage in that regard鈥攆rom a geographic standpoint鈥攊s very important. Our borders make us a relatively safe country compared to the rest of the world just because we have oceans on both sides and friendly countries to our north and south, but now people don鈥檛 need to travel here to make their incursions.鈥
Speakers
Jane Harman
Representative John Katko (R-NY)
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