ANNOUNCER: Jack Smiley, from the Colony, Texas, asks, "What specifically are the powers and responsibilities of the Office of Homeland Security?"</s>WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: The Homeland Security Adviser's job is to coordinate government efforts to protect Americans from terrorism. That includes guarding against bioterrorism, like the recent anthrax attacks; guaranteeing travel safety; protecting power plants and other public facilities; ensuring medical preparedness for an emergency; and investigating terrorist threats. For such a big job, some people believe the Homeland Security adviser should be a Cabinet officer, with his own organization and his own budget. But the White House believes that the Homeland Security adviser -- that's former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge -- has all the authority he needs, based on Mr. Ridge's relationship with President Bush, who is just a few steps down the hall.
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