May 26, 2009
mccaul.house.gov
AUSTIN, TX - On May 19, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX 10) and fellow Republican members of the House Homeland Security Committee pushed through a binding resolution Tuesday originally opposed by Democrats. It forces the Department of Homeland Security to turn over to Congress all materials used in producing the controversial report, "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment".
"It's important for us to find out how the Department of Homeland Security drew conclusions that, returning veterans who risk their lives fighting terrorists would succumb to recruitment by terrorists." said Rep. McCaul, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Intelligence Subcommittee. "That assertion is outrageous and an insult to the men and women who defend this nation."
Under H.Res. 404, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has 14 days to provide copies of documents related to the report, including:
- all of the materials used in drafting the assessment
- written material indicating when the assessment began
- a written description of the clearance processes before and after those processes were changed by DHS
- a schedule of DHS Intelligence employee training for privacy and civil liberties
- any written information on the internal controls for intelligence assessments at the department since the processes have been changed.
The DHS report caused a public uproar over the ideologically-based and overly-general manner in which DHS characterizes "Rightwing Extremists." The report specifically mentions issues such as "opposition to gun control efforts," "criticism of free trade agreements," "perceived government infringement on civil liberties," "abortion," and "same-sex marriage".
After the release of the report, Secretary Janet Napolitano testified before the Homeland Security Committee that "the wheels came off the wagon because the vetting process was not followed."
The resolution seeks to find out what information was considered in producing the report and what approval process it was subjected to before it was sent to local law enforcement across the country. It still must pass the full House before it takes effect.
[editors note: It will be an interesting item to watch. Will the resolution pass the full House or will the Democrats decide that they have no accountability to the people of this country by blocking it? Will they determine that they are free to do as they will, without restriction, regard or accountability, including the trampling of citizens rights? It should also be noted that while there is justifiable outrage over the insult given our military, there seems to be little or no concern over the insult given to millions of other Americans in the report. This report subjected them to unjustified and persecutorial attention from law enforcement simply because they hold opinions which differ from those of the current administration.]
