JEFFERSON CITY -- Sen. John Griesheimer, R-Washington, has been appointed to serve as the first chairman of the newly formed Joint Committee on Terrorism, Bioterrorism & Homeland Security.

"Keeping Missouri safe has never been as important as it is right now," said Sen. Griesheimer. "As our nation prepares to go to war with the most evil dictator since Adolf Hitler, we realize how vulnerable Missouri is against terrorist attacks like the one that took place in New York on Sept. 11."

Created under Senate Bill 712 during the 2002 Legislative Session, the Joint Committee on Terrorism, Bioterrorism and Homeland Security to be made up of seven members of the Senate and seven members of the House of Representatives.

Among the committee's responsibilities:

• Make a continuing study and analysis of all state government terrorism, bioterrorism and homeland security.
• Devise a reporting system for government agencies that will provide information on each agency's security plans.
• Determine from its study and analysis the need for changes in statutory law.
• Make recommendations to the General Assembly to provide adequate security for the state.

"This committee will coordinate the efforts of all of the state's emergency services," Sen. Greisheimer said. "Properly protecting our state is going to be a big job and it needs to be as centralized as possible."