Bipartisan Panel Will Work with White House, DoD, DHS to Focus on

Homeland Security, National Guard Issues 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuño has been appointed by President Obama to serve on his newly-created Council of Governors, a bipartisan group of 10 governors who will work in partnership with the White House, the Defense and Homeland Security Departments and other senior Administration officials on a range of homeland security issues facing the nation.

Gov. Fortuno was one of five Republican governors and five Democrat governors who were appointed to two-year terms on the Council.  According to the White House, the Council was created to further strengthen the partnership between federal, state and local governments to better protect the country.

“I am honored to accept this appointment from the President, which provides a unique opportunity as part of my efforts to ensure that military and national security resources in Puerto Rico, such as the National Guard, are operating at optimum capacity,” Gov. Fortuño said.  “This represents an extraordinary opportunity to highlight the strategic importance of Puerto Rico as the nation’s third border, as well as improve intergovernmental and interagency coordination as part of our collective efforts to meet the challenges we are facing.” 

Created by Presidential Executive Order, the Council will review policies and advise on such issues as the National Guard, homeland defense, civil support, and synchronization and integration of state and federal military activities in the United States.

The nine other members of the Council of Governors are:  Vermont Governor James H. Douglas, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire, Arizona Governor Janice K. Brewer, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry, Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell, Missouri Governor Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon, Maryland Governor, Martin O’Malley, North Carolina Governor Beverly Eaves Perdue and South Dakota Governor M. Michael Rounds.

Federal members of the Council include the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs, the U.S. Northern Command Commander, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. 

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