Joe Lieberman: “I am proud of the work our Governmental Affairs Committee has done. It was a very open process. We included provisions…”

“I am proud of the work our Governmental Affairs Committee has done. It was a very open process. We included provisions recommended by members of both parties. I think it is a strong proposal. Obviously, there is some disagreement with the White House about parts of it, but I repeat what I have said before, that we are in agreement on: First, the basic necessity to better organize our homeland defenses, because this disorganization which exists now is dangerous. Second, there is broad bipartisan agreement on this bill we have reported out of our committee and the White House about what I have estimated to be 90 percent of the components of the bill. We are having a series of tussles about the remaining 10 percent. The sooner we resolve them, the better. The sooner we get this bill passed and on the way to a conference committee with the House and authorize the administration to set up this new Department, the safer the American people will be. I appreciate the Senator's call for expedited action, and I hope and pray that others in the Senate heed that call.”