Tom Carper

I like to say that everything I do, I know I can do better.

We in Congress and the American people have tasked our Department of Justice with very weighty responsibilities: protecting the Nation against national security threats, preventing and punishing crime, and ensuring the fair administration…

The President has made not just a wise choice in nominating Virginia Seitz for this position, but I think he had made an extraordinary choice

Thanks so much, Mr. Chairman, Senators Hatch and Grassley and our colleagues.

I certainly hope we will keep that concern in mind as we consider the three nominees before us today.

Unfortunately, the Senate recently has lagged in the latter regard. The Deputy Attorney General is a key operational leader within the Department of Justice, but the current nominee has been denied a vote for almost 1 year.

As my colleagues know, I believe very strongly that the office betrayed its historic high standards during the previous administration.

He is among our Nation's most respected and experienced appellate advocates, having argued 12 cases at the Supreme Court and participated as counsel in 22 more.

The fact is that we face a determined, innovative foe, and no machines can substitute for good intelligence, well-trained screeners, and an observant public.

Let me underscore my appreciation of the fact that no single screening technology can ensure our safety. There is no magic bullet.

DHS, in my view, should independently evaluate the health effects of that technology and establish a goal of using radiation-free screening technology.

That is why Senator Lieberman and I intend to introduce an air cargo screening security bill later this year.

And if I could, Mr. Chairman, the last part of my question was what additional resources or staffing do you need, what additional authorities do you need in the Department to enable you to be even more effective on this front?

I would also like to take the time to thank Committee Member Senator Tom Carper for his assistance in strengthening homeland security in our region.

I would like to beat that goal rather than have to slide further.

If you are not keeping score, you are just practicing.

I think the President ought to have that tool and just try it for 4 years, a 4-year test drive, fully constitutional.

I like to say as an old Naval flight officer, we are pretty good at re-fighting the last war.

Let us be very clear in our mission: A terrorist attack or a major catastrophic event knows no municipal, State, or Federal boundary.

This collaboration that the Administrator speaks about, it is absolutely key.

I am also concerned about the threat that those 30 million passengers face.

I understand, Dr. Flynn, that in your written testimony you provide compelling evidence of the deficiency of rail and transit security.

This is important, too, and I tried to go back and forth as best I could.

I vote for counterterrorism joint interagency task forces pointed at the key areas where we still face al-Qaeda and its affiliates.

I also believe we are in a safer place as a result of this reorganization that we put in place a number of years ago.