Department of National Homeland Security Act of 2001

This bill proposed creating a Cabinet-level Department of National Homeland Security to centralize the country’s defense against domestic threats and natural disasters. By combining several existing agencies—including the Coast Guard, Border Patrol, and FEMA—under one department, the bill aimed to streamline border security and emergency response efforts. For citizens, this reorganization was intended to provide a more coordinated federal response to crises and better protect essential infrastructure like power grids and transportation systems.