Dianne Feinstein: “despite this vote, I wish to make a point. The administration has said in a letter dated today from Secretary Chertoff…”

“despite this vote, I wish to make a point. The administration has said in a letter dated today from Secretary Chertoff that their position is that 90 percent of homeland security funds should be distributed on the basis of risk. The Secretary goes on to say that they have 36 essential capabilities they need to carry out, and the way to do that is based on risk. Here are the numbers: In the underlying appropriations bill, 70 percent is based on risk, $1.339 billion. Under Collins-Lieberman, less than 70 percent goes to risk. It is cut back to 60 percent, $1.155 billion. Under the Feinstein-Cornyn amendment, $1.667 billion is based on risk, or 87 percent. It is the closest number to the administration's letter dealing with this issue. I have a very hard time substituting pork for risk. I just was reading some of the intelligence. Let there be no doubt that not every State is equal in terms of target. We have set up a huge agency of 22 departments. We have given them risk analysis. We have given them intelligence. We have broken down the wall between FBI and CIA. Why? Because there is a real threat, and money should be accorded based on that threat, not based on pork. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Maine is recognized.”