The May 12, 2003 Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations' field hearing in Minnesota will examine the unique problems that local and regional officials have experienced in dealing with higher levels of threat.

It will also examine the difficulty of maximizing border security while minimizing the impact on commerce and tourism and will look at the coordination of Federal, State, and local efforts to supervise land, water, and air navigation. This hearing is done to guide the members as they craft legislation to direct the federal response to homeland security.

A number of local Minnesota officials, both elected and appointed, will testify on how their duties have changed over the last two years. They will comment on the relationship between their offices and the federal agencies, both as it exists now and as they think it should exist in the future.