Lautenberg Named Interim Chairman of Homeland Security Subcommittee

According to a Committee news release Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Inouye (D, HI) appointed Sen. Lautenberg (D, NJ) as the interim chairman of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security to replace the late Sen. Byrd (D, WV). It is likely that this interim appointment will be confirmed by the Senate Democratic Caucus. The position of Chairman will give Sen. Lautenberg a large measure of discretional authority over the content of the Department of Homeland Security budget bill that is currently being written in that sub-committee. With Lautenberg’s interest in chemical facility security measures, it would not be unexpected to find more attention being paid, for example, to the expected extension of the CFATS authorization in that budget bill.