Secretary Napolitano is committed to strengthening relationships between the United States and countries around the world, which will help keep the United States more safe and secure. She will take her first international trips as Secretary, to coordinate with our Canadian, Mexican and European partners.

Secretary Napolitano will travel to Missouri on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 to address the third annual National Fusion Center Conference in Kansas City. She will also get a tour of the Missouri Emergency Operations and Fusion centers and will hold a media availability with Governor Jay Nixon.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced her appointment of Juliette Kayyem to serve as Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Programs on March 5, 2009.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate announced the formation of two new Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs): the Homeland Security Studies & Analysis Institute (HSSAI) and the Homeland Security Systems Engineering & Development Institute (HSSEDI).

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced $1 billion in aviation security projects to be funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donovan announced hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to Louisiana to stimulate long-term recovery in the wake of last year’s devastating hurricane season and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

President Obama announced he will nominate Craig Fugate as FEMA Administrator. Secretary Napolitano announced that Jason R. McNamara will serve as FEMA Chief of Staff.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced to the National Congress of American Indians that the department will institute its first-ever policy to engage the direct and interactive involvement of Indian Tribes in developing regulatory policies, recommending grant procedures for tribes, and advising on key issues on March 3, 2009.

The Department of Homeland Security released some details of the projects being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, recently passed in both houses of Congress and signed into law by President Obama. The total amount going to the Department and to the General Services Administration in support of Department programs is $3.5 billion.