Cord Byrd: “the Senate has before it the fiscal year 2007 Homeland Security appropriations bill. I commend our chairman. I am…”

“the Senate has before it the fiscal year 2007 Homeland Security appropriations bill. I commend our chairman. I am debating whether I should say ``who has no peer.'' I think I will stick with that. He has no peer when it comes to knowledge of the subject matter and as one who cares deeply about his country, his committee, its work, and about the needs that exist for appropriating adequate funds. I commend him. I commend his staff. They have done excellent work on this legislation. This chairman makes it his business to know what are the facts concerning the needs out there; who makes it his business, once he knows the facts, to go after the weaknesses, the soft spots, and, with a great determination, to do the task ahead. I commend the thousands of men and women who are on the front lines defending America's homeland. They do serve the Nation every hour of every day. Senator Gregg has tried to allocate limited--and I say limited, I stress the word ``limited''--resources to respond to those threats that present the greatest risk. He does not have the funds to deal with all the threats, but he has sought to respond to those threats that present the greatest risk. In doing so, Senator Gregg has included a number of improvements to the President's budget, particularly with regard to border security, baggage explosives detention, fire grants, and emergency management.…”