Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations

Neutralizing The Nuclear And Radiological Threat: Securing the Global Supply Chain (Part One)

Date: March 28, 2006
Time: 9:30am
Location: Room 342, Dirksen Senate Office Building
Agenda:

The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations had two days of hearings entitled “Neutralizing The Nuclear And Radiological Threat: Securing the Global Supply Chain.” On March 28th, the Subcommittee hearing focused on the domestic and international deployment of radiation detection equipment, as well as U.S. Government efforts to prevent radiological or nuclear terrorism. Three Government Accountability Office Reports will be released at the March 28th hearing. These reports include: (1) U.S. Customs and Border Protection Radiation Portal Monitor Program (RPMP) to install Radiation Portal Monitors (RPMs) at U.S Ports of Entry; (2) the Department of Energy Second Line of Defense program to install RPMs at key international border crossings and ports; and (3) the successful importation of radiological sources across the Northern and Southern Border.

On March 30th, the Subcommittee hearing focused on the security of the global supply chain and update the May 2005 hearing, “The Container Security Initiative and the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism: Securing the Global Supply Chain or Trojan Horse?” A Subcommittee staff report on global supply chain security was released at the March 30th hearing.

In addition to examining forthcoming reports, the hearings will examine the other programs that form our layered defense against nuclear terrorism including the Container Security Initiative, the Megaports Initiative, and the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. Moreover, these hearings examined the role of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, a new office created within DHS to coordinate global nuclear detection architecture.

The Subcommittee’s Report, “AN ASSESSMENT OF U.S. EFFORTS TO SECURE THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN” and the three GAO Reports (GAO-06-545R, GAO-06-389, and GAO-06-311) are all available in the final Printed Hearing Record which can be accessed via the link at top left of this webpage. 

Witnesses

Panel 1

THE HONORABLE THOMAS

KEAN

Former Governor of New Jersey and Chairman of the 9/11 Commission

Panel 1

COMMANDER

STEPHEN E.

FLYNN (USCG, Retired)

Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies

Council on Foreign Relations

Panel 2

MR. EUGENE E.

ALOISE

Director, Nuclear & Nonproliferation Issues, Natural Resources and Environment

Government Accountability Office

Panel 3

MR. DAVID G.

HUIZENGA

Deputy Assistant Secretary

National Nuclear Security Administration

Panel 3

VAYL

OXFORD

Director, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office

Department of Homeland Security

Panel 3

MR. JAYSON P.

AHERN

Assistant Commissioner

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Related Links

Printed Hearing Record