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House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Homeland Security Intelligence Subcommittee Chairwoman Jane Harman, D-Calif., on Thursday asked other House chairmen to withhold funding for a new Homeland Security Department office designed to access space satellites in support of operations within the United States.

The department wants to open a national applications office that would coordinate how federal, state and local officials access satellite technology to support such operations as securing U.S. borders, assessing damage created by natural disasters and protecting critical infrastructure.

Officials hope to provide access to satellites to support state and local law enforcement operations but maintain it will not do so until policy and legal questions are resolved.

But Thompson and Harman wrote to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman David Price, D-N.C., and House Appropriations Intelligence Oversight Chairman Rush Holt, D-N.J., to oppose funding of the office.

Thompson and Harman said they "remain extremely concerned about the program," adding Homeland Security has not adequately explained what law enforcement purposes the office would serve.

"We are left to conclude that the only reason to stand up a new office would be to gather domestic intelligence outside the rigorous protections of the law and, ultimately, to share this intelligence with local law enforcement outside of constitutional parameters," they wrote.

"We therefore urge you to abstain from authorizing or appropriating funding for the NAO. At a minimum, all funds should be fenced."

Last year, Thompson and Harman urged the withholding of fiscal 2008 funding for the office, a move appropriators eventually adopted.

COMMENTS

• Skeeter, at least check Snopes before ranting. Stating that ‘Pelosi wants a new tax on capital gains to be used to "help" illegals with housing and benefits’ corresponds to nothing she said. Such statements are mere examples of your lack of knowledge and the radical right’s embracing of disinformation tactics. Whether the Party Pacaderm wishes to admit it or not, the Blue Dogs have some highly regarded ex-warriors who, while respecting the need to fight for freedom, know that this fight is about anything but freedom. We are imposing ourselves onto a nation that was already beaten into submission; regardless of the impotent rants of their despicable and now dead and deposed despot. We are fighting a “war” just to prove we’re the toughest kid on the block, daring anyone else to attack us. And as unpatriotic as that may sound, some one has to tell the Emperor that he has no clothes; certainly no one in the PP will since McCain changed his tune to more closely align with the PP and avail himself of their financial resources. I must agree with Jim and Mike, this office does constitute duplication of effort. As such, any denial of funds will not stop the sharing of information; the location being superfluous. This administration will yet have a space-eye on our neighborhoods instead of the border; but please note that the POTUS doesn’t want too many folks watching his backyard when he returns home to his oil business that are currently reaping unprecedented profits. Tip off Posted June 3, 2008 9:59 AM
• Key democrats aren't worried about citizens being spied on they are concerned that their future voters illegal aliens will be caught and sent home. This is self preservation for party and an opportunity to allocate more of my tax dollars for their upkeep. Remember Pelosi wants a new tax on capital gains to be used to "help" illegals with housing and benefits Dan ketter Posted May 21, 2008 11:05 AM
• Mike Uhart, you make an excellent point regarding duplication of effort, which should usually be avoided. But, one of DHS's greatest problems is that so many committees claim jurisdiction over parts of DHS that they have often turned it in to something as hog-tied as the prior paradigm of protecting America. Routing the question through the maximum number of committees will probably assure the questions never get addressed. Still like to hear some more specifics as to Harman and Holt's issues. Jim Kaley Posted May 19, 2008 9:30 PM