Cochran to chair Homeland Security panel

By By William F. West / community editor
March 5, 2003
U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran on Tuesday was named chairman of a new Senate appropriations subcommittee on homeland security.
His new leadership role is part of a reorganization plan to oversee spending of the new Department of Homeland Security created when President Bush saw the need to coordinate several domestic emergency and security agencies after 9/11.
Cochran said Bush is requesting more than $37 billion in funding for homeland security.
Cochran was asked whether the subject would be discussed had it not been for 9/11.
Cochran cited Mississippi's history of being prone to hurricanes, floods and tornadoes but said the possibilities of other terrorist attacks are what's on peoples' minds.
Cochran said he believes Bush is making progress in having the government track down and arrest suspected terrorists.
Cochran remains chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee and will also continue to serve on the Senate Rules Committee but he'll no longer serve as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture.
U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss., said in a statement that Cochran's new chairmanship is a wonderful opportunity for the state's senior senator to show continued leadership for Mississippi and the nation.
Lamar McDonald, chairman of the Navy Meridian Team, said he was pleased to hear that Cochran was given the new assignment.