SUBCHAPTER IX—NATIONAL HOMELAND SECURITY COUNCIL

§491. National Homeland Security Council

There is established within the Executive Office of the President a council to be known as the "Homeland Security Council" (in this subchapter referred to as the "Council").

(Pub. L. 107–296, title IX, §901, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2258.)

§492. Function

The function of the Council shall be to advise the President on homeland security matters.

(Pub. L. 107–296, title IX, §902, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2258.)

§493. Membership

(a) Members

The members of the Council shall be the following:

(1) The President.

(2) The Vice President.

(3) The Secretary of Homeland Security.

(4) The Attorney General.

(5) The Secretary of Defense.

(6) Such other individuals as may be designated by the President.

(b) Attendance of Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff at meetings

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (or, in the absence of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) may, in the role of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as principal military adviser to the Council and subject to the direction of the President, attend and participate in meetings of the Council.

(Pub. L. 107–296, title IX, §903, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2258; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title IX, §908(b), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3404.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2006—Pub. L. 109–163 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).

§494. Other functions and activities

For the purpose of more effectively coordinating the policies and functions of the United States Government relating to homeland security, the Council shall—

(1) assess the objectives, commitments, and risks of the United States in the interest of homeland security and to ¹ make resulting recommendations to the President;

(2) oversee and review homeland security policies of the Federal Government and to ¹ make resulting recommendations to the President; and

(3) perform such other functions as the President may direct.

(Pub. L. 107–296, title IX, §904, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2259.)

¹ So in original. The word "to" probably should not appear.

§495. Staff composition

The Council shall have a staff, the head of which shall be a civilian Executive Secretary, who shall be appointed by the President. The President is authorized to fix the pay of the Executive Secretary at a rate not to exceed the rate of pay payable to the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council.

(Pub. L. 107–296, title IX, §905, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2259.)

§496. Relation to the National Security Council

The President may convene joint meetings of the Homeland Security Council and the National Security Council with participation by members of either Council or as the President may otherwise direct.

(Pub. L. 107–296, title IX, §906, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2259.)