To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the use of Civil Air Patrol personnel and resources to support homeland security missions, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, in accordance with the Budget Enforcement Resolution, I submit those changes in law resulting from legislation approved or filed by the Committee on Homeland Security that will help achieve deficit reduction by enhancing efficiency, accountability and oversight, while eliminating waste, abuse, mismanagement, and fraud in Government programs within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security.

Below are measures within the Committee's jurisdiction that have, to date, been approved by the House during this Congress and reflect the Committee's efforts to promote efficiency, government reform and result in budgetary savings:

H.R. 553, the Reducing Over-Classification Act, which creates a standard for formatting finished intelligence and eliminates redundant classification efforts.

H.R. 2200, the Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act, which streamlines management at TSA, requires risk-based allocation of resources, and promotes operational efficiency.

H.R. 4842, the Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization Act of 2010, which establishes new internal controls, more robust standards, and reforms for all of the research and development conducted by both the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.

H.R. 3978, the First Responder Anti-Terrorism Training Resources Act, which allows the Department of Homeland Security to accept gifts for its first responder training centers, thereby alleviating need for the Department to purchase certain equipment or material.

H.R. 3980, the Redundancy Elimination and Enhanced Performance for Preparedness Grants Act, which requires the identification of redundant rules and regulations and a plan to eliminate redundant reports and regulations.

H.R. 1148, a bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a program in the maritime environment for the mobile biometric identification of suspected individuals, including terrorists, to enhance border security, which promotes government efficiency by streamlining processing, prosecution, and deportation of suspected individuals.

H.R. 2868, the Chemical and Water Security Act of 2009, which controls spending by requiring that grants be awarded on a merit and risk based basis, streamlines the regulatory requirements for securing chemical and water treatment facilities and, by enhancing the security of such facilities, mitigates against the potentially astronomical costs associated with the response to and recovery from a successful terrorist attack on such a facility.

H.R. 1617, the Department of Homeland Security Component Privacy Officer Act of 2009, which establishes a privacy officer in each Department of Homeland Security component, thus enhancing efficiency by reducing the potential for the production of regulations or guidelines that are subject to challenge under privacy laws.

H.R. 4748, the Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act of 2010, which enhances the efficiency of governmental efforts to prevent the illegal trafficking of drugs across the northern border by requiring a strategy stating the specific roles and responsibilities of relevant agencies.

H.R. 1178, a bill to direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the use of Civil Air Patrol personnel and resources to support homeland security missions, and for other purposes, which requires a report to Congress focusing on the feasibility and cost effectiveness of using the Civil Air Patrol to supplement Departmental air resources involved in border enforcement and other homeland security missions.

H.R. 1665, the Coast Guard Acquisition Reform Act of 2009, which eliminates massive cost overruns and potential future costs overruns for Coast Guard acquisitions.

H.R. 3619, the Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011, which creates an acquisition directorate to provide guidance and oversight for Coast Guard acquisitions, the result of which will be cost savings.

Madam Speaker, the measures I have listed display the Committee on Homeland Security's commitment to advancing legislation that seeks to reduce the national deficit by promoting government efficiency while focusing on our primary mission of pursuing legislation that enhances the security of our nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 1178, legislation that would direct the Comptroller General to conduct a study on the use of Civil Air Patrol personnel to support homeland security missions.

Since its inception in 1941, the Civil Air Patrol has been vital in emergency services and disaster relief operations across the United States. As the official civilian auxiliary to the United States Air Force, the Civil Air Patrol contains over 56,000 of America's finest volunteers and owns several thousand aircraft and vehicles to complete its missions.

Furthermore, the Civil Air Patrol has provided the nation's youth and general public with aerospace education and created numerous cadet programs for young people ages 12-18. These cadet programs help supply the necessary skills and resources for our nation's future leaders. Two such leaders, Barry and Christiana Loudermilk, reside in the 11th District of Georgia, which it has been an honor and privilege to represent for the last six years in this great body.

Despite a very busy and demanding career as both a State Legislator and a businessman, Barry Loudermilk is an active officer in the Rome Civil Air Patrol Squadron. He also serves as the Squadron Commander of the Georgia Civil Air Patrol Legislative Squadron and is a Government Affairs Officer for the Georgia Wing Civil Air Patrol. Additionally, Barry has been active in his community as a Volunteer Search and Rescue Ground Team Leader and a Volunteer Search and Rescue Pilot.

His daughter, Christiana, has distinguished herself as a leader throughout her career in the Civil Air Patrol. Christiana holds the rank of Cadet Captain and is a certified ground search and rescue specialist. She served as the Cadet Commander of the Rome Composite Squadron and attended the 2007 Cadet Officers School at Maxwell Air Force Base. For her tireless efforts, Christiana has received the Georgia Air Wing Commander's ``Coin of Excellence,'' and was awarded the Civil Air Patrol's ``Community Service Award'' for her volunteer works in a local hospital.

In 2008, Christiana served as the Alpha Flight Commander at the Georgia Wing encampment and her flight was named the encampment's ``Honor Flight.'' In addition to serving as Alpha Flight Commander, she was selected to attend the ``Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Course'' at Columbus Air Force Base in Columbus, Mississippi. I want to publicly thank Christiana for her service and thank the Civil Air Patrol for providing this type of quality leadership training to our young people.

Madam Speaker, it is my firm belief that the Civil Air Patrol will provide an extraordinary addition to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) if the Comptroller General finds it worthwhile for such an endeavor. The Civil Air Patrol has displayed volunteer leadership for over 60 years in working with the United States Air Force, and it is a leader for developing our nation's youth. I applaud both Barry and Christiana Loudermilk for their accomplishments in this organization, and I support expanding the mission of the Civil Air Patrol so that they can assist DHS in defending the United States. We must use every resource necessary to keep America safe, and I am positive that the Civil Air Patrol will add to and continue the remarkable job our military has provided in defending our nation at home and abroad.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1178) to direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the use of Civil Air Patrol personnel and resources to support homeland security missions, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on H.R. 1178.

Madam Speaker, I would like to insert into the Record an exchange of letters between Chairman Oberstar and Chairman Thompson regarding H.R. 1178.

U.S. House of Representatives,

Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC, May 7,

2009.

Hon. James L. Oberstar,

Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,

House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building,

Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing you regarding H.R.1178, a

bill ``To direct the Comptroller General of the United States

to conduct a study on the use of Civil Air Patrol personnel

and resources to support homeland security missions, and for

other purposes,'' introduced on February 25, 2009, by

Congressman Charles W. Dent. This legislation was initially

referred to the Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure and, in addition, to the Committee on Homeland

Security.

In the interest of permitting your Committee to proceed

expeditiously to floor consideration of this important

legislation, I will waive further consideration of H.R. 1178.

However, agreeing to waive consideration of this bill should

not be construed as the Committee on Homeland Security

waiving, altering, or otherwise affecting its jurisdiction

over subject matters contained in the bill which fall within

its Rule X jurisdiction.

Further, I request your support for the appointment of

Homeland Security conferees during any House-Senate

conference convened on this legislation. I also ask that a

copy of this letter and your response be placed in the

Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill.

I look forward to working with you on this legislation and

other matters of great importance to this nation.

Sincerely,

Bennie G. Thompson,

Chairman.

I thank the gentleman for his thoughtful piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1178 originally introduced by my colleague from Pennsylvania, Mr. Dent. The bill directs the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study to determine how the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) can help support homeland security missions and to report to Congress on his findings.

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a Congressionally-chartered, federally- supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). First organized over sixty years ago at the beginning of World War II, the Civil Air Patrol is a 57,000- member volunteer cadre that flies 500 planes nationwide.

In addition to its aerospace education mission for youth and the general public, the Civil Air Patrol handles 90 percent of inland search and rescue missions. Its members are responsible for approximately 75 lives saved each year.

Civil Air Patrol planes have been among the first to survey the aftermath of such disasters as the attacks of September 11, 2001, Hurricane Katrina, Texas and Oklahoma wildfires, and North Dakota flash flooding. The Civil Air Patrol has also assisted in humanitarian missions along the U.S. and Mexican border.

Border security, drug interdiction, search and rescue are just a few missions in which airborne reconnaissance and tracking would give homeland security officials valuable information critical to carrying out their objective.

The Civil Air Patrol is eager to further assist in Homeland Security missions. This bill will help better define how the Civil Air Patrol may be used more extensively to aid in homeland security missions.

I thank my good friend, the gentleman from Minnesota, for his kind comments about my legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1178. This bill, which I introduced in February of this year, is similar to the Civil Air Patrol legislation that was passed by this House during the 110th Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support. I am pleased to have the opportunity to bring this bill before the House for consideration once again.

I would like to thank Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for their cooperation and support in bringing this legislation to the floor today. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Chairman Bennie Thompson and Ranking Member Peter King and the Committee on Homeland Security for their continued support for this initiative. Additionally, I would also like to thank Chairwoman Sheila Jackson-Lee of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, on which I serve as ranking member, for her support as a cosponsor of

I yield back the balance of my time.