Joe Lieberman: “last week we observed the first anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security, the largest reorganization of the…”

“last week we observed the first anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security, the largest reorganization of the Federal Government in almost a half century. With that anniversary came a round of reflection on the status of our homeland defenses. There was general agreement on the verdict. Yes, we are stronger and safer at home, thanks to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and other steps that we have taken since September 11, 2001. But no, we are not nearly as safe as we should be. We are not as safe as we should be because this administration has not given homeland security the focused leadership and resources that it demands. The Gilmore commission, led by former Virginia Governor James Gilmore, a distinguished Republican leader, recently warned of complacency about the terrorist threat and decried the lack of a clear strategy to bring about improved security. Other expert panels, one of them convened and led by former colleagues Warren Rudman and Gary Hart, called the Nation 'still unprepared' to respond to another September 11 attack and said that our first responders were 'drastically underfunded.' Homeland security will not come cheap. On first responders alone, one of the expert panels I described told us they believe it would take $98 billion over 5 years to bring our defenses at home up to where they need to be.”