Cord Byrd: “I thank Chairman Thad Cochran, the House chairman, Harold Rogers, Representative Martin Sabo, Representative David Obey…”

“I thank Chairman Thad Cochran, the House chairman, Harold Rogers, Representative Martin Sabo, Representative David Obey, and all of the House and Senate conferees for their hard work on this important legislation. We all share the goal of ensuring that the new Department of Homeland Security has the resources it needs to secure the homeland. I also commend the thousands of men and women who are on the front lines of homeland security. While I remain very concerned that we are not giving these men and women the tools they need to do their jobs, that in no way detracts from their commitment to serve the Nation every hour of every day. It is particularly appropriate for us to be considering this legislation as Congress reviews the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. The President, the Vice President, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the FBI Director, and the CIA Director invoke the threat of another terrorist attack on an almost weekly basis. The 9/11 Commission concluded that on September 11, 2001, our government agencies were not prepared to deter or respond to such attacks. We are still not prepared to deter or respond to such attacks. In light of all of these threats, one might anticipate that the President would have amended his anemic 2-percent proposed increase for the Department of Homeland Security.”