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Homeland Security and Terrorism

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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The focus of the Baker Institute Homeland Security and Terrorism Program is to serve the Houston-Harris County region and its population by enhancing regional security. The Houston-Harris County region is one of the nation’s top five economic targets for terrorists. As the nation’s fourth largest city, Houston serves as the capital of the international energy industry and is strategically critical to the nation’s economy and defense. Extremists, including those currently wanted by the FBI, are known to have lived and traveled through the region, and their organizations have shown the ability to carry out terrorist operations. Accordingly, the Homeland Security and Terrorism Program, in pursuit of Rice University President David Leebron’s objective of serving the city and the county, is a source of substantive advice and counsel on terrorism and homeland security issues.

The Homeland Security and Terrorism Program was initiated in 2001 when Houston Mayor Lee Brown requested that Baker Institute personnel assess Houston’s ability to respond to an act of terrorism. Later, an alliance was formed with the city of Houston and Harris County for continual assessment of the security posture of the region, informed discourse with public officials and civic leaders of its findings, education of the public, and the proposition of measures to enhance security. These efforts were pursued under the aegis of the Houston-Harris County Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council, with Baker Institute Founding Director Edward P. Djerejian serving as chair. The newest effort of the program is the Texas Security Forum, designed to engage all members of the community in discussion of current threats and efforts to address those threats.

To date, efforts on behalf of the program have assisted in and/or resulted in multiple changes in the city’s homeland security programs, the passage of several homeland security measures by the Texas Legislature, a memorandum of understanding between the State of Texas and the U.S. Coast Guard, numerous speaking events, seminars held at the Baker Institute, and the formation of an ad hoc law enforcement information-sharing network. Looking forward, the Homeland Security and Terrorism Program will continue to foster understanding and cooperation on homeland security issues and to encourage working relationships among relevant public and private agencies and individuals.

PUBLICATIONS
2009
Political Correctness and Inconvenient Truth
Dec 07 2009
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Letter to the Editor: The 90% Myth
Oct 14 2009
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Case Outlines Potential Terror Threat to U.S.
Sep 20 2009
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Tip line could counter the rule of "silver or lead"
May 09 2009
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Beware Drug Cartel Corruption
Apr 11 2009
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Security in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands: The Crisis, the Forces at Work and the Need for Honest Assessment and Action
Mar 29 2009
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Letter to the Editor: Guantanamo
Jan 22 2009
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
2008
Question and Answer: Lashkar-e-Tayyiba
Dec 18 2008
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Testimony Before the House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, and Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans of the U.S. House of Representatives - Joint Subcommittee Oversight Field Hearing
May 22 2008
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Testimony Before the Mexican American Legislative Caucus of the Texas House of Representatives
Jan 30 2008
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
2007
Testimony Before the Texas Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security
Nov 16 2007
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
EVENTS