Joe Lieberman: “I am prepared to join with Senator Collins and Senator Carper in introducing this amendment, and Senator Carper played a…”

“I am prepared to join with Senator Collins and Senator Carper in introducing this amendment, and Senator Carper played a very active role on the committee, along with Senators Collins, Levin, and other members in devising this very balanced approach to this controversial question of the Homeland Security grant formula. It does reflect the reality of the current terrorist threat, that there are some places that are a higher probability because they contain more potential targets, or because they are just big, prominent cities. But the fact is, when you are dealing with an enemy--and we have seen this around the world--that will strike at the most vulnerable, undefended targets, not caring about consequences to human life, whoever it is--children in schools, buses, trains, families, et cetera--in some sense, every American is endangered and every community is endangered. Therefore, every State deserves some proportion of these Homeland Security grants. That balance has been struck very well, I think, in this amendment, which is the bill our committee reported out earlier. So I look forward to debating this and hopefully passing it with strong support in the coming days.”