WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jeff Duncan, Chairman of the Oversight and Management Efficiency Subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee, held a hearing entitled, “Why Can’t DHS Better Communicate with the American People?”
The hearing examined the Department of Homeland Security’s challenges communicating its goals, priorities, tactics, and missions. Chairman Duncan highlighted examples of DHS ammunition procurement, Sequestration, and ICE’s detainee releases as instances where the Department failed to adequately inform the American people. Mr. Robert Jensen, DHS’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, acknowledged challenges but noted tools DHS uses to inform the public, such as through social media. Ms. Tamara Kessler, DHS’s Acting Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, discussed the Department’s outreach efforts to ethnic and religious communities.
The hearing also highlighted private sector best practices in communication and public affairs, as well as, findings from a START Center report that found almost 60 percent of Americans are unaware of DHS’s “See Something, Say Something” campaign—a program to raise public awareness towards terrorism and emphasize reporting suspicious activity. Mr. Doug Pinkham, Public Affairs Council President, stated that “because DHS deals with major national security and civil liberty issues, it has to be diligent about setting the record straight when the public is misinformed. Yet it must do so with compelling stories to supplement its facts.”
Chairman Duncan on the hearing:
“An uncommunicative Department of Homeland Security that is seen as consistently stonewalling increases people’s skepticism of DHS, strains the institution’s credibility, and makes people question the motivations of the Department’s leadership.”
“It seems to me that more than a decade after the September 11th attacks, and especially in light of April’s Boston Marathon bombings, that the American people are resilient and receptive and more than willing to do their part in securing the homeland. It is my hope that the Department will try to work to capitalize on this through enhancing its responsiveness and communication with the public and their stakeholders.”
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8 comments
“See Something, Say Something” campaign—a program to raise public awareness towards terrorism”
I reported the NSA to the DHS(for terrorism)-and they said they’d have the CIA look into it. The next day the IRS audited me. I told them I must have reported the wrong terrorist to the DHS.
They told me that’s why they were auditing me and that I don’t get to plead the 5th, but that I could could get my kids back from DSS if I just plead guilty and paid the appropriate fines.
The way I figure it, if we simply ban 3 letter acronyms from government we’d reduce it substantially and it gets me out of hot water.
In the mean time, let’s rename Duncan’s version of “Security Theater” a ripoff of MST3K:
Let’s call it MST43B, for “Mystery Security Theater for $43 Billion a year”.
“See Something, Say Something” campaign—a program to raise public awareness towards terrorism”
I reported the NSA to the DHS(for terrorism)-and they said they’d have the CIA look into it. The next day the IRS audited me. I told them I must have reported the wrong terrorist to the DHS.
They told me that’s why they were auditing me and that I don’t get to plead the 5th, but that I could could get my kids back from DSS if I just plead guilty and paid the appropriate fines.
The way I figure it, if we simply ban 3 letter acronyms from government we’d reduce it substantially and it gets me out of hot water.
In the mean time, let’s rename Duncan’s version of “Security Theater” a ripoff of MST3K:
Let’s call it MST43B, for “Mystery Security Theater for $43 Billion a year”.
Congressman Jeff Duncan…………really..?
Jeff, have you ever read the “Art of War”..??
It would seem that you would be more “open” and communicate with the voters in your district who READ this website..? Geez, when is the last time you even cared to comment on any article Wil deemed important in your district..? When…??
Jeff, how many uniformed personnel do you have serving in your district..??
Mr. Branton it’s apparent that Duncan doesn’t read or prepare his own statements. He continue to spews lies and makes embellishments to keep his $175,000 per job. Hell, didn’t lie about his ‘football career” at Clemson?
Congressman Jeff Duncan…………really..?
Jeff, have you ever read the “Art of War”..??
It would seem that you would be more “open” and communicate with the voters in your district who READ this website..? Geez, when is the last time you even cared to comment on any article Wil deemed important in your district..? When…??
Jeff, how many uniformed personnel do you have serving in your district..??
Mr. Branton it’s apparent that Duncan doesn’t read or prepare his own statements. He continue to spews lies and makes embellishments to keep his $175,000 per job. Hell, didn’t lie about his ‘football career” at Clemson?
Looks like duncan in a huddle during his CLUMSON FOOTBAL DAYS. How many years did jeffy say played for Danny Ford?? He was only listed for ONE YEAR ON THE SCOUT TEAM???? Does that count towards a football career???
Looks like duncan in a huddle during his CLUMSON FOOTBAL DAYS. How many years did jeffy say played for Danny Ford?? He was only listed for ONE YEAR ON THE SCOUT TEAM???? Does that count towards a football career???