Joe Lieberman

I don't believe you're going to find more than 30 votes against Judge Roberts.

I further hope the procurement and deployment of EDS machines will be based on acquiring the best technology for the particular airport in question.

Therefore, is my understanding correct that the objective of this set aside was to aid in the development and deployment of next generation explosive detection equipment?

Assuming my friend from Colorado is here to speak on our amendment, I yield to him from the time allocated to Senator McCain up to 10 minutes. Is that enough or would the Senator like more?

I am glad to. Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, as the Senator from Florida points out, this chart shows the areas in Florida subject to inundation with a 100- centimeter sea level rise. This is what we see happening. The red is the area of his…

In a Senate that has become increasingly partisan and polarized, the bipartisan center held.

It's up to the voters now.

Among its other significant provisions, the bill before the Senate, S. 2845, establishes a new Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. Waging the war on terror has required that the federal government take steps that consolidate…

Moreover, in making our country safer by tightening standards for identification documents, we must never trample on any individual's civil and due process rights. One of the standards we require for the rulemaking is for a State to…

I agree that the conference report language does not allow the minimum standards to directly or indirectly infringe on States' power to set eligibility criteria for who can obtain a driver's license or personal identification card.

We have been told by many experts, including the 9/11 Commission, that we need to address every vulnerability to prevent any future attacks, and that we need to enlist the assistance of everyone who can contribute to protecting our…

I agree that joint jurisdiction over the Board's work on privacy and civil liberties matters is the most effective and appropriate way to take advantage of our shared expertise and experience. I thank the Ranking Member of the Judiciary…

I agree. Accountability for this Board is essential. As the 9-11 Commission stated, ``strengthening congressional oversight may be among the most difficult and important'' of our recommendations. We cannot assign the Board such significant…

The Secret Service is now part of homeland security. The Homeland Security Department should be overseen by the homeland security committee. ... the Secret Service is best known for its mission in protecting the Nation's highest elected…

It was indeed, and we are still working on an amendment to try to see if we can right that wrong. I say to the Senator from Vermont, with all respect, I understand your question. The point is, if we were doing this right, everything in the…

Very briefly, the Harkin amendment is focused on a requirement relative to the new board we are creating in this proposal. The new board, to watch out for the privacy and civil liberties rights of American citizens and others, is required…

I respond to my friend who may be humble but is a very distinguished, nonetheless, expert on these matters, and I appreciate the Senator is so informed about the contents of the Commission report. Interestingly, we communicated with the…

That is why we want to put the budget of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in the national intelligence program. These are national intelligence assets. Clearly, the call of the military for the services of those assets will be a…

The fact is the work of the National Geospatial Agency which we are describing here that produces image intelligence which is so critical to the military is also, as the Senator knows, increasingly critical to the Department of Homeland…

I thank Senator Warner for the initiative and for the reasoning that we have done. We have come up with a result that is a wise and solid balance. We are creating a new position--national intelligence director--but we want that position to…

In fact, this amendment broadens the involvement of the national intelligence director in these important nominations. I thank the Senator for his cooperation. It shows that Senator Collins and I are willing to hear and accept a good idea.

That is correct. We tried to draw some lines. They are not always clear because there are a lot of programs that overlap, but to say that anything in the national intelligence budget should go to the national intelligence director, that is…

Just a final word: We have been quite focused and specific when we have granted authority to the national intelligence director. So, therefore, all the other authorities the law gives to the various department heads enumerated in the…

Right. But only, if I understand it, to protect the authority of the departments except as we specifically alter them in the bill. So, for instance, the national intelligence director will have certain budget authorities or transfer…

Well, I think we should reason together a little bit on this. In other words, I am concerned, in the broadest reading of this, this amendment could be read to undercut everything else the bill does. I do not believe the Senator would…