Bill Clinton: “I believe after September 11, it is imperative we have more information available than we currently have. There are many…”

“I believe after September 11, it is imperative we have more information available than we currently have. There are many arguments that have already been made on the floor, very good ones, from our colleagues from Arizona, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Florida, as to what efficiency issues should take precedence. I agree we need to constantly be evaluating our defense budget and expenditures, to become as efficient as possible. Yet I also believe there are serious security concerns we are only beginning to address. I take very seriously the Secretary's letter which has been referred to and which has been read into the Record. I believe my colleague from New Mexico, Senator Bingaman, is correct in saying the President and the Secretary have inherent power to realign, depending upon the needs we face in any kind of strategic or emergency situation. We are about to engage in a broad-scale reevaluation of our homeland defense and security.”