Rep. Dale Strong Tackles Event Security!

Our own U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) is stepping up to bat, making sure Americans stay safe during some HUGE upcoming events!

Homeland Security Hearing

Strong, who's the big cheese (Chairman!) of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, recently led a hearing. It was all about "Mass Gathering Events: Assessing Security Coordination and Preparedness," because the U.S. is about to host a bunch of major international happenings.

Why It Matters

"Mass gatherings? Big targets," says Strong. He's talking about the fact that these events draw massive crowds, which sadly makes them attractive to some seriously bad dudes. Keeping everyone safe means federal, state, and local authorities need to play ball together – law enforcement, emergency services, the whole shebang! Plus, Strong emphasizes that close teamwork with the sports and entertainment industries is key.

Coming Soon: Major Events!

Get ready, folks! The U.S. is about to be the center of the world with events like the 2025 Ryder Cup, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, the epic 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 2026 World Cup alone will have 78 matches across 11 U.S. cities, drawing an estimated 5 million fans and a whopping 6 BILLION viewers online!

Learning from Experience

Strong witnessed these security challenges firsthand when he led a congressional visit to New Orleans after that New Year’s incident on Bourbon Street. That event was a stark reminder that we have a shared responsibility to protect these gatherings.

New Task Forces!

Good news! Congress and the White House are launching efforts to boost event security. Plus, President Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Bipartisan Support

Strong will also be part of a bipartisan "Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States." They'll focus on the FIFA World Cup in 2026, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and the United States’ 250th Anniversary.

Working Together

"I applaud Vice Chairman McCaul and Chairman Green," Strong shared. "I’m honored to be on this task force!" The group will visit event sites, hold hearings, host roundtables, and release a final report on their findings. This all goes toward the Committee’s oversight of National Special Security Events (NSSEs) and major Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) events.