Alfonso Pete Galeai is now confirmed to serve as Director of the Department of Homeland Security.
He was approved by unanimous vote in the Senate today by a vote of 16-0, a day after the House of Representatives confirmed him also by a unanimous, 16-0 vote.
During his confirmation hearing by the Senate Public Safety Committee chaired by Sen Faamausili Mau Mau Jr., senators expressed support of the governor’s selection of Galea’i to head this important department, with his extensive experience in government and the private sector, and having dealt with disaster response as Director of the Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management, ODAPM.
Senator Tuiagamoa Tavai asked if he had asked the governor for this position, and Galea’i replied he didn’t but when Governor Lolo asked him to take it up he accepted it because he wanted to serve.
Among issues that senators raised with the director nominee is the role of the Dept of Homeland Security in the enforcement of drug laws, drug cases that have been reported but were never prosecuted, drivers licenses under the REAL ID Act, and a weather satellite for the local Weather Service Office.
Galeai explained that DHS does not have enforcement authority but does work with local and federal law enforcement agencies on investigation of drug and other crimes. One of the divisions of DHS is OTICIDE, the Office of Territorial and International Criminal Intelligence and Drug Enforcement (OTICIDE).
Galea’i said Homeland Security has three drug cases under investigation. OTICUDE!
In his closing statements the nominee said if given the opportunity to serve as Director of Homeland Security, his two main priorities for the five months in the position are to cut off drug supplies and keep coronavirus out of the territory.
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