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Third In-Person Meeting of the Homeland
Security Advisory Council Reviewed Committee Recommendations on
Supply Chain Security, Intelligence and Information Sharing,
Transparency, and Innovation as
Department Marks 20th Anniversary
Secretary Mayorkas Swears in AFL-CIO
President Liz Shuler as Newest Advisor to the Council
WASHINGTON
– Yesterday, Secretary of
Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas convened a meeting of the Homeland
Security Advisory Council (“the Council”) at the White
House to discuss how the Department can enhance supply chain
security, improve efforts of intelligence and information sharing
capabilities, promote greater transparency, improve customer
service, and expand on its Homeland Security Technology and
Innovation Network.
“No federal Department
touches the lives of more people on a daily basis than the
Department of Homeland Security, and those we serve deserve to see
our government working to become more innovative, more efficient,
and more responsive. The work of the Homeland Security Advisory
Council is central to informing those efforts,” said Secretary
of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Members of
the HSAC include former advisors to U.S. presidents, executive
leaders of national law enforcement organizations, CEOs of some of
the world’s largest companies, Presidents and CEOs of
non-government organizations dedicated to human rights, government
accountability, and community empowerment. From combatting forced
labor around the world to fortifying our critical infrastructure,
we cannot succeed in our mission without robust collaboration with
community and private sector partners. I am confident the
recommendations made by members of the Council will help our
260,000-person workforce better deliver on our critical mission and
continue to build trust in our Department for years to come.”
During the meeting, Former Secretary of Homeland
Security Michael Chertoff, who led DHS from 2005 to 2009, spoke
about how the Department’s development over 20 years reflected the
evolution in the threat landscape. Secretary Chertoff
emphasized that the Department is fit for purpose for the threats
of today and tomorrow.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also
addressed the Council, discussing the convergence of homeland security
with national security. He recognized the Department’s 20th Anniversary and echoed the message that President
Biden delivered to the workforce on March 1, 2023 highlighting the
dedication and resolve of the DHS workforce over the past twenty
years.
Secretary Mayorkas presented Judge William “Bill”
Webster, the HSAC Chair Emeritus, with a Distinguished Service Medal for his 20 years of service to the Department. Judge
Webster, who recently turned 99 years old, was initially appointed
by Secretary Tom Ridge in April 2003. Judge Webster has extensive
public service experience, he served as Director of the CIA from
1987-1991, Director of the FBI from 1978-1987, a Judge on the
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit from 1973 to
1978, and a United States District Court Judge for the Eastern
District of Missouri from 1970 to 1973. He is the recipient of the
Distinguished Intelligence Medial, the Presidential Medal of
Freedom, and the National Security Medal.
Secretary Mayorkas also recognized AFL-CIO Liz
Schuler for her work so far and officially swore her in as the
newest member of the Council.
During yesterday’s meeting,
four HSAC subcommittees formed at the direction of Secretary
Mayorkas, presented their final reports on several taskings:
·
The Supply Chain Security Subcommittee’s final report outlines steps the Department can
take to enhance the security, resiliency, and efficiency or the
nation’s supply chains.
·
The Information
and Intelligence Sharing Subcommittee's final
report outlines steps that the
Department can take to improve information sharing with federal,
state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners.
·
The Transparency
and Open DHS Review Subcommittee’s final report outlines how the Department can
improve openness and transparency across the Department.
·
The Homeland
Security Technology and Innovation Network Subcommittee’s report outlines how the Department can improve
the Department’s innovation, research and development, and
technology network with the private sector.
Following the presentations,
the four reports were unanimously accepted by the Council. They
will be made available to the public in the coming days.
Last March 2022, Secretary Mayorkas reconstituted
and re-envisioned the Council to work more closely with the
Department to better meet the challenges of the evolving threat
landscape and seize the opportunities to better serve the American
people. The Council includes former Cabinet
Secretaries from both Democratic and Republican administrations;
chief executive officers from the technology, energy,
transportation, financial, food and consumer products, and venture
capital industries; executive leaders of national law enforcement
organizations; Presidents and CEOs of non-profit organizations
dedicated to human rights, government accountability, and community
security and empowerment; leaders of nonpartisan policy institutes;
and other leading professionals. The Secretary and the HSAC members
work with subject matter experts in and outside the Department to
develop strategies in the domestic and international domains. The
members will provide independent advice and recommendations to the
Secretary.
To learn more about the
Council, including its taskings, reports, and recommendations,
visit DHS.gov/Homeland-Security-Advisory-Council.
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