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8A FEDERAL UPDATE from page 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 9 (Miss.-2) aims to make rail and mass transit security major priorities for the Homeland Security Committee next session. While the port security bill enacted in October (PL 109-347) did not contain rail and mass transit security funding authorizations, the Senate-passed version of the bill Included about $4.5 billion for that purpose. Rep. Thompson is expected to develop stand- alone legislation to address these issues. The committee could gain increased authority on homeland security and anti-terrorism issues if incoming Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi is successful in implementing the 9/11 Commission's recommendations. Of note con- cerning changes to the current subcommittee chair roster, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (Calif.-47) is expected to chair the Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection and Cybersecurity Subcommittee. Also, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (Callf.-16) is likely to chair the Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment Subcommittee. Current committee Chairman Peter King (N.Y.-3) is expected to become the committee's ranking member when Congress reconvenes for the new session in January 2007. Intelligence. On December 1, incoming Speaker Pelosi announced that she had ap- pointed Congressman Silvestre Reyes of Texas to chair this committee. The announcement fol/owed several weeks of speculation as to whether she would bypass ranking Intelligence Committee member Jane Harman (Callf.-O 36), to appoint Congressman Alcae Hastings (Fla.-D 23) to the chairmanship. In announcing the appointment, Pelosi refer- enced Reyes past experience as a Vietnam War veteran, a senior law enforcement officer in Texas, and his membership ofthe House Select Intelli- gence, Armed Services, and Veterans' Affairs Committees. She also praised Harman's past service as ranking committee member, as well as the foreign affairs expertise that Hastings had brought to the committee. RAil of the Democrats who serve on the Intelligence Committee in the 109th Congress will continue to be great resources on national security matters to the Democratic Caucus, the Congress, and the country." Judiciary. Current Ranking Member John Conyers (Mich.-14) is expected to serve as chairman of the Judiciary Committee in the 110th Congress. Rep. Conyers is expected to empha- size an agenda of oversight of the Administration's exercises of executive power, particularly the National Security Agency's warrantless surveil- lance program. Democrats may also revisit a law (PL 109-366) governing the interrogation and trial of terrorist detainees, In a distinct departure from the committee's current work, Rep. Conyers is also likely to re- move from the agenda amendments to ban gay marriage and flag burning and reduce or eliminate bills that aim to impose mandatory minimum prison sentences. Current committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (Wis.-5) is expected to become the committee's ranking member. In a noteworthy change to subcommittee leadership, Rep. Howard Berman (Calif.-28) is expected to serVe as chair of the Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property Subcommittee. Resources. Congressman Nick Rahall (W.Va.-3) is expected to become the chairman of the Resources Committee. His agenda will likely be much different than that of outgoing Chairman Richard Pombo (Callf.-11). who tried repeatedly to rewrite the Endangered Species Act (Pl 93- 205), which directs federal agencies to conserve threatened species and prohibits Industrial actions that could harm endangered wildlife. Rep. Rahall has argued that more funding is necessary for federal agencies to fulfill their responsibilities under the law, and does not favor a complete, overhaul of the law sought by outgoing Chairman Pombo. Rep, Pombo's election defeat will likely put Congressman Jim Saxton (N.J.-3) in the post of ranking member for the committee. In Continued on Page 10 Visit the League's Official Webslte--www.cacltles.org PRIORITY FOCUS. PAGE 9 December 1, 2006 - Issue #46