The Homeland Security Act Essay

The HSA (Homeland Security Act) has been an operational act since 2002 after it was enacted on December 25th of that same year. The Act was supported by one hundred and eighteen members in the Congress. It is good to note that it was passed into law and signed by the then president George Bush in 2002 (Congress, 2002).After the passing of the HAS Act, a new department was formed by the name Homeland security. There are significant issues that led the Congress to enact the Act at the particular time. One problem was the devastating attacks on the US soil by the Al-Qaeda terrorist group on 11th September 2001. The attacks were carried out in four sequences, and this leftover 2000 people dead. Another issue that led to the formation of the act was the anthrax attacks that happened in 2001 (Brill, 2016). Several letters were mailed to two senators of the United States and others specific media houses. This action left five people dead and several others with the same illness.

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The Homeland Security Act was passed and amended by the Senate to work on several issues. First, it was supposed to prevent further terrorist attacks in the U.S. This would be done by employing countermeasures that would work on the same. Secondly, the Act would minimize the vulnerability or the likelihood of terrorist attacks in the United States. Another issue that the Act would address is assisting in recovery in case of any terrorist attack and also help to minimize the damages caused. Since the Department of Homeland Security was formed, the Act was bound to ensure that all entities are transferred there as well as the functions. Also, the Act was supposed to focus on the relative connection between terrorism and drug trafficking in the United States. The Act would also regulate the economic security state to ensure that the same is not solely directed at homeland security only (Congress.gov, 2018). One of the significant provisions of this act is to provide funds to the areas that are prone to terrorism by using threat analysis holistically. Another requirement is to ensure that all states give out their ERPs (Emergency Response Plans) to the Homeland Security Department so that it can apply the necessary measures and also make strategies that will be applicable both regionally and nationally.

The Act was passed by the Senate in 2002, and there were no objection or cases raised against the same. This action is to say that the final vote passed the act and the President signed it into law. The Act was not challenged in court and had the full support of members of the Senate. Since the implementation of the Act which later led to the formation of Homeland Security Department, America has been safer than before. That is to say that it has covered and addressed the problem that it was intended to treat. No major terror attack has been reported after the September 11 terrorism. Since then, it has been harder for terrorists to execute attacks on the United States soil. The defense mechanism of U.S has grown stronger and stronger over the years through the applications and strategies that have been applied in line with the recommendations found in the Act (Brill, 2016).

Homeland Security has been introduced as a course in many institutions in the US. This strategy is meant to ensure that more qualified personnel are available in the wake to purely curb matters of terrorism. The Homeland Security has created policies that are applicable in different areas of security after conduction quality analysis and weighing of risks. With the Help of the implementation of Homeland Security, America has eliminated threats of terrorism by ensuring that foreigners are legally allowed into the US soil with the maximum screening at the borders. It is undeniable that in matters of terrorism, the Homeland Security Act has been effective (Brill, 2016).

In my opinion, the legislation was good. Terrorism is one of the most terrifying and destructive acts. The "heat" is mostly felt by citizens as they left homeless, displaced and even face undeserved deaths from such actions. For example, the people who were affected by the terror attack on September 11 always saw the negative effects of the same. Also, security is also vital to economic growth because people will engage in business and other beneficial activities freely. The passing of the legislation was a good thing because all these factors were addressed and the same is evident even in the present days. It is the role of the government to make sure that citizens are safe from all manner of terrorism. Therefore, passing such legislation was one way of fulfilling that responsibility. As the Super Power, the United States did a commendable job by introducing such an act of ensuring safety to its citizens as the same would be employed by other countries.

References

Brill, S. (2016). Is America Any Safer?

The Atlantic. H. R. 5005 - 107th Congress (2001-2002): Homeland Security Act of 2002. (2018). Congress.gov. Retrieved 28 February 2018, from https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/5005

United States. Congress. House. Select Committee on Homeland Security. (2002). Homeland Security Act of 2002.