North Cook News

WASHINGTON – On June 22, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi applauded the Department of Homeland Security’s establishment of the Homeland Security Academic Partnership Council (HSAPC), a council for Homeland Security officials to engage with higher education representatives on issues related to homeland security and the academic community. The new council, created in response to bipartisan legislation led by Congressman Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Congressman Ralph Norman (R-SC) succeeds a previous body with the same responsibilities called the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council (HSAAC), which was originally formed in 2012 and dissolved in October of 2019 by the previous Administration. The newly re-established HSAPC will consist of up to 30 diverse members appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security, including representatives of two-year community colleges, K-12 school systems, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal colleges, and Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander-serving institutions. Together, these council members will engage with Homeland Security Officials on issues around protecting academic research, campus and community resiliency, security and preparedness, and cybersecurity.

“The Homeland Security Academic Partnership Council 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,” said Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. “I was proud to lead the bipartisan and bicameral Homeland Security Higher Education Advisory Council Act to establish this important council with Senator Dick Durbin and Congressman Ralph Norman, and at a time of unparalleled risks of cyberattacks and intellectual property theft at academic and research institutions, it is more important than ever to focus on addressing this issue.”

“The Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council’s unceremonious and irrational termination by former President Trump 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 relaunch the re-named Homeland Security Academic Partnership Councilon June 22,” 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.”

“I am pleased that the administration recognizes the contributions the academic community can provide on homeland security issues and is committing to further collaboration,” University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen said. “I also applaud Rep. Krishnamoorthi for working to make sure higher education has a seat at the table in our role as a public servant when those issues are discussed.”

“We greatly appreciate Rep. Krishnamoorthi’s continuing support for enhanced communication between the higher education community and the Department of Homeland Security, said Ted Mitchell, President of the American Council on Education. "We are optimistic that the establishment of the Homeland Security Academic Partnership Committee will allow the higher education community to engage productively with DHS on a wide range of important issues, including policies impacting international students and scholars.”

“We’re deeply grateful to Congressman Krishnamoorthi for his successful push for the restoration of an academic partnership council within the Department of Homeland Security,” said Mark Becker, President of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. “There are no shortage of issues in which DHS and the higher education community must collaborate to advance the public good. Through the new Homeland Security Academic Partnership Council (HSAPC), we now have an important structure to ensure lines of communication and collaboration to better accomplish shared goals.”=

“I’m honored to have been selected as a member of the Homeland Security Academic Partnership Council (HSAPC) and look forward to participating in the group as it partners with Secretary Mayorkas and the Department of Homeland Security,” noted Barbara R. Snyder, President of the Association of American Universities, which represents America’s leading research universities.  “I’d also like to thank Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi for his efforts in helping to reestablish the council and for his steadfast support of America’s leading research universities.”

Secretary Mayorkas appointed the following 20 members to the 30-person Council:  

• Elisa Villanueva Beard, CEO, Teach for America (Chair) 
• Dr. Walter Bumphus, President and CEO, American Association of Community Colleges (Vice Chair) 
• Carrie Billy, President, American Indian Higher Education Consortium 
• Alberto M. Carvalho, Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District 

• Dr. Miriam Feldblum, Executive Director, Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration 
• Dr. Antonio Flores, President, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities 
• Dr. Farnam Jahanian, President, Carnegie Mellon University 
• Dr. Mark E. Keenum, President, Mississippi State University 
• Dr. Cynthia Kelley, President, Madisonville Community College 
• Dr. Alex Marrero, Superintendent, Denver Public Schools 
• Honorable Ruby G. Moy, President, Asian Pacific Islander American Association of Colleges and Universities 
• Chief John Ojeisekhoba, President, International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators 
• Assistant Chief Rudy Perez, President, National Association of School Resource Officers 
• Dr. Tamarah Pfieffer, President, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute 
• Michael Schill, President, Northwestern University 
• Dr. Cynthia D.  Shapira, Chairperson, Board of Governors, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education 
• Barbara Snyder, President, Association of American Universities 
• Dr. Adela de la Torre, President, San Diego State University 
• Suzanne Elise Walsh, President, Bennett College 
• Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers

Original source can be found here.