The 2002 Homeland Security Act Term Paper Examples

The 9/11 attack prompted or necessitated a major reorganization of the federal government and uncovered many vulnerabilities in the American national security system. In the year 2003, the Congress passed law and President George signed into law or legislation the 2002 Homeland Security Act (HSA) that consolidated 22 different bureaus and agencies into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with an obligation to respond and prevent man-made and natural disasters. The Senate, in reaction to such reforms reorganized the state affairs committee to entail extra jurisdiction over security concerns and established the Government Affairs Committee and Homeland Security. The central area of jurisdiction of the committee is ensuring protection of Unites States (U.S) homeland and, particularly, oversight or supervision of the DHS. Government Affairs Committee has operated in a bipartisan way for many years to guarantee that DHS creates a proper strategy to preparedness for, deterrence of, as well as recovery from man-made or natural catastrophes. Agencies, for example, Transportation Security Agency (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) all work towards achieving mandate of DHS, which is to defend borders of homeland from threats, at ports, online, and other places (Olson, 2006).
The privacy objectives of DHS office include operating a privacy program oversight as well as executing all privacy act and Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) operations. DHS evaluates the regulatory and legislative proposals of the department, which entail the collection, use, as well as disclosure of individually identifiable information. In addition, DHS provides and centralizes program supervision and executes all the privacy act and FOIA operations. Apart from that, DHS provides education, outreach, and training that create the basis for privacy practices and transparency across the department. As a final privacy objective of DHS office, it responds to, investigates, as well as addresses concerns of privacy violations (Olson, 2006).
Without over-emphasis, the main mission of the HSA is to deter terrorist attacks in U.S, reduce the weaknesses of U.S to terrorism, minimize damage, as well as help in recovery from attacks, which happen in America (Olson, 2006). The HSA gives the Homeland Security (HS) Secretary powers to control and direct investigations that need information access required to investigate and deter terrorism (Olson, 2006). Powers of the Secretary of HS may be construed to entail Protected Health Information (PHI) requests of any kind devoid of express permission or authorization of the legal guardian or patient. In addition, it states that patient health information is protected from disclosure without permission and should be managed and utilized only for the concerns of official obligations (Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2012). For that reason, re-disclosure can be limited to people who want to access the information for personal duties and is in line with the privacy rule of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
There are strategies to ensure aviation security. For example, Airport Security Program (ASP) offers requirements of baseline security for described categories of commercial airports. 49 CFR Part 1542 requires airport operators to adopt and adhere to airport security program. Provided the airport operator has developed the airport security program, the review or evaluation and approval work is done by Federal Security Director (FSD). After approval, the airport security program serves a means through which transportation security agency may inspect and implement security measures. Normally, an approved Airport Security Coordinator (ASC) has custodial duty for the airport security program and should inform transportation security agency of any suggested changes (Unites States, 2008).
Homeland Security Act (HSA) of 2002 has many influences on aviation. Department of Homeland Security has improved security of aviation. Department of Homeland Security in response to evolving threats, 9/11 terrorist attacks, and with the assistance of Congress, has adapted and improved its capability of detecting threats via a multi-layered, threat-based system. Currently, approximately fifty-one thousand Transportation Security Officers (TSOs), Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs), and Transportation Security Inspectors (TSIs) function on frontlines at over four hundred and fifty U.S airports. Before 9/11 terrorist attack, limited security requirements were available for baggage and cargo screening. Currently, 100% of checked and carry-on luggage is screened for explosives. Besides, TSA regularly assesses intelligence information to come up with countermeasures to improve its multi-layered, threat-based system at airports or onboard aircraft.
Currently, Department of Homeland Security demands that airlines flying to America from foreign nations offer advance or prior passenger information before departure. In addition, Department of Homeland Security has expanded or developed trusted traveler programs, accelerating travel for airline passengers who give biometric identification and successfully pass thorough security checks (Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2012). Over two million passengers have expedited screening via Transportation Security Agency Preê security lanes from time the initiative started in October of 2011. Transportation Security Agency Preê presently exists in eighteen airports for select regular flyers of members or participating airlines of Customs and Border Patrol Trusted Traveler programs. American Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and U.S Airways provide benefits of Transportation Security Agency Preê to eligible regular travelers (Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2012).
TSA, as an extra layer of security to always secure flight program by conducting flight passenger watch list corresponding for 100% of covered America aircraft operator and overseas air carrier flights within, into, and out of America. In addition, TSA carries out passenger watch list corresponding for global point-to-point air flights managed by covered home air carriers to discover any passenger who can cause threat to national security or aviation and designate such passenger for rigorous screening or, as apposite, bar them from taking a flight (United States, 2002). Although Transportation Security Agency does not carry out passenger screening overseas, it demands aircraft that serve or function as the final departure point for America to meet strict security standards. Transportation Security Agency scrutinizes all the security programs of America and overseas air carriers serving final points of departure.

References

Bullock, J. A., Haddow, G. D., & Coppola, D. P. (2012). Introduction to homeland security. Boston, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Olson, S. P. (2006). The Homeland Security Act of 2002: Legislation to protect America. New York, NY: Rosen Pub.
United States. (2002). Homeland Security Act of 2002: Hearing and Markup before the Committee on International Relations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventh Congress, second session, including markup of H.R. 5005, June 26 and July 10, 2002. Washington: For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O. [Congressional Sales Office.
United States. (2008). Compilation of the Homeland Security Act of 2002: (updated with amendments made by P.L. 110-417 (October 14, 2008)) : prepared for the use of the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, second session. Washington: U.S. G.P.O.