Congressman Krishnamoorthi Applauds DHS For Establishing The Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council

Statement

Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi issued the following statement in response to the Department of Homeland Security's announcement that it is reestablishing the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council (HSAAC), a council for Homeland Security officials to engage with higher education representatives on issues related to homeland security and the academic community:

"Last Congress, I proudly introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Homeland Security Higher Education Advisory Council Act with Senator Dick Durbin and Congressman Ralph Norman to establish this important council, and we successfully passed the key components of this legislation in the FY21 Appropriations Bill," said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. "HSAAC was dissolved at a precarious time when the threat of cyberattacks and intellectual property theft at academic and research institutions were on the rise. Today, we celebrate the formation of this critical body which will serve an integral role in increasing the long-term national security of the United States by forming lasting partnerships between academic and national security officials."

"The Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council's unceremonious and irrational termination by the last president cut off vital dialogue between educational institutions and DHS about potential threats. I've continuously advocated for this council, understanding that creating a safe atmosphere on our campuses is vital to our education system. Terminating this council made little sense. I'm pleased to see the Biden Administration reestablish the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council," said Senator Durbin.

"Our nation's academic institutions are entrusted with hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of intellectual property, not to mention some of our most important national security assets. As such, they are high value targets for malicious actors and hostile nations," said Congressman Norman. "For almost two years, Rep. Krishnamoorthi and I have pressed the Department of Homeland Security to reestablish its Academic Advisory Council. This endeavor represents an important pipeline between DHS and our nation's academic institutions, providing intelligence and resources that could be critical from a homeland security standpoint. I am pleased DHS has finally taken action on this front."

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