Select committee's recommendations for a homeland security committee.(Homeland Security: Compendium of Recommendations Relevant to House Committee Organization and Analysis of Considerations for the House, and 109th and 110th Congresses Epilogue)

On September 30, 2004, the Select Committee on Homeland Security transmitted its recommendations to the Rules Committee. (99) It recommended that a standing and therefore permanent Committee on Homeland Security be established, with the addition of a new clause 12 to House Rule X. (100) Key aspects of the select committee's recommendations included:

* a standing committee is to be created, composed of not more than 29 members and not more than 16 from one party;

* the Speaker and minority leader to serve ex officio, without voting privileges;

* jurisdiction is to be granted over "homeland security generally" and over DHS, except, generally, for non-homeland security matters within the authority of the department;

* "exclusive authorizing and primary oversight jurisdiction" is to be granted with respect to the department's authorities related to the "prevention of, preparation for, and response to acts of terrorism within the United States";

* authorizations for the department to prevent, prepare for, or respond to acts of terrorism must precede appropriations; and

* referrals of legislation and other matters to the Select Committee on Homeland Security in the 108th Congress would not be considered precedent for referrals to the new committee. (101)

In addition to jurisdiction over homeland security generally and the department (numbered (1) and (2) in the proposed standing committee's jurisdiction), the select committee's recommendations enumerated eight other specific components of the proposed committee's jurisdiction:

(3) The integration, analysis, and sharing of homeland security information related to the risk of terrorism within the United States.

(4) The dissemination of terrorism threat warnings, advisories, and other homeland security-related communications to State and local governments, the private sector, and the public.

(5) Department of Homeland Security responsibility for research and development in support of homeland security, including technological applications of such research.

(6) Department of …