Cord Byrd: “Mr. President, over recent weeks as the President crisscrossed the Nation on campaign stops--campaign stop after…”

“Mr. President, over recent weeks as the President crisscrossed the Nation on campaign stops--campaign stop after campaign stop--he used a number of gimmicks, including this legislation, to rally support for his chosen candidates. He painted this bill as a panacea for the terrorist threats that plague us and challenged this Congress to pass this bill quickly. On each occasion, as I followed the newspaper accounts of the President's stops during the campaign, the President left the impression among the public that this bill is urgently needed, and that it will make life safer for American families. But there was much he didn't say. Here is what the people can expect after the Congress approves this legislation to transfer 28 agencies and offices to a new Homeland Security Department. Next February, the President will submit a plan--his plan--to the Congress about how he intends to transfer 28 agencies and offices into a massive new Department over the period of just 12 months. We don't know what is in the President's plan today, and we will not know what is in the President's plan when and if Congress passes this bill and it goes to the Chief Executive for his signature.”