Texas A&M to establish homeland security hub.

• Author: Book, Elizabeth G.
• Position: Security Beat

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, introduced a bill in March to establish a national center for homeland security at Texas A&M University.

The legislation includes $120 million over five years for the Texas A&M center, which would serve as an umbrella organization coordinating research throughout the A&M System facilities and possibly other U.S. universities. The finding needed for the center would come nor only from the federal sector, but also from state sources and private donors, said Matt Lloyd, Brady's spokesman.

"There is clearly a need for a nationally coordinated university-based activity to collect and disseminate information, focus on critical research and educational needs, and to provide resources for response and recovery to ensure homeland security," Brady said in a statement. The legislation is a "high priority item" for the congressman, Lloyd said.

An A&M document presented to the Texas Board of Regents said the university is "uniquely qualified to establish a university-based national center for homeland security," because of A&M's strengths in genetics, food, biology...