Tom Carper: “Mr. President, if you go back 5 years ago and consider the tragedies that befell our Nation on September 11, it opened…”

“Mr. President, if you go back 5 years ago and consider the tragedies that befell our Nation on September 11, it opened our eyes to the kind of threats we face with respect to the security of our air travel. It served to open our eyes, subsequently, with respect to the security of our ports, with the security of our chemical plants and the communities that are located around them. I think we have had our eyes opened to security threats that maybe face people who travel on our trains and our commuter rail systems. We have seen all too well how inadequately--ineptly, really--FEMA responded to the Katrina and the gulf coast part of our country. I think most of us agree today we are better equipped now to fend off threats to the security of our air travel. And I think with respect to the security of our ports, with this legislation Senator Collins and Senator Murray have shepherded, we have made real progress; some would say maybe not enough, but I think everybody would say measurable, palpable progress.”