I was pleased to see that the President's fiscal year 2012 budget increased funds for border security, and also invests in advanced screening technologies in our Nation's airports.

In the coming weeks I will be reintroducing, the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Preparedness Planning Act to assist local educational agencies and districts located in areas much like mine, that find themselves high threat of…

If a terrorist successfully carried out an attack on one of the chemical facilities in my district the death count would be significantly higher.

The chemical industry employs nearly a million Americans and accounts for nearly $600 billion of our Nation's GDP.

CFATS have been a proven tool in helping to keep our facilities, workers, and communities safe.

It is my prerogative to make sure that not only the chemical facilities in my district are protected against a potential terrorist attack, but that all facilities across the country are secure against attacks.

I would like to thank Chairman Lungren and Ranking Member Clarke for holding this important hearing today on maintaining the security of our Nation's chemical facilities.

If in fact that were to go into effect, how would that impact your Department?

What percentage of people being looked at [by your agency] for domestic terror threats were Muslim?

I cannot have this conversation with you as the Secretary without joining with some of my colleagues in stressing our desire to have an authorization much sooner than 18 months.

We are not in agreement with an 18-month extension and we would like to move forward, and I would like that message to be delivered to the President and to the Administration.