EX-DRUG CZAR GENERAL MCCAFFREY TO TESTIFY ON HOMELAND SECURITY BEFORE LIEBERMAN-THOMPSON PANEL:

10:00 A.M. FRI., OCT. 12, 2001, 342 DIRKSEN

    (Washington, DC) – Former National Drug Policy Director General Barry McCaffrey (now the Olin Distinguished Professor of National Security Studies at West Point) offers recommendations to the Senate Friday on ways to strengthen the strategy and mission of the Office of Homeland Security: 10 AM, Friday October 12, Senate Committee on Government Affairs, 342 Dirksen.  The committee is chaired by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), and Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN) is Ranking Member.

    Based on his five years as White House Drug Czar and his prior service as a military strategic planner, General McCaffrey is expected to testify on ways to strengthen the office including enhanced budget powers for the Homeland Office director, the ability to convene full Cabinet Council meetings, improving ways to coordinate the forty agencies involved in anti-terrorist activities, enhancing intelligence capacity, increased staffing beyond the current projected 100 people, and the need to root out criminal drug funding for terrorist cells.  In addition, General McCaffrey will discuss his advocacy of other steps including on board airline protection measures, direct screening of passengers and cargo by federal law enforcement, and a U.S. Army National Guard capable of working for the governors with a greatly improved capacity for chemical-biological-radiological reconnaissance and decontamination.  He will also suggest a transformation of the National Guard away from high-intensity warfare capabilities with armor, artillery, and attack helicopters to focus on: military police, field hospital units, transportation, engineering, communications and logistics units to provide support to the civil population during domestic emergencies.

    General McCaffrey will be available to media at the hearing.

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