Cord Byrd: “Many Senators may not be surprised by these revelations. It is a well-established practice for former Government workers…”

“Many Senators may not be surprised by these revelations. It is a well-established practice for former Government workers to lobby their old colleagues. What is alarming about this situation is how quickly Secretary Ridge's former aides stepped into new careers as domestic security lobbyists. Those very people responsible for setting up the Homeland Security Department are the first people standing in line with their hands out. These are the same people who argued so vociferously in favor of rolling back the civil service laws to allow contractors more access to Government work. They said that the new Secretary must have the flexibility to run the new Department, to hire and fire public servants, and now some of those same people are working for the very companies that are competing for homeland security contracts. The Homeland Security Secretary has promised to put into place strict ethical standards to make sure the agency's decisions are based on merit. I commend him for the promise but I am impatient for the follow-through. Chairman Cochran has taken the bold step of not earmarking first responder, science and technology and infrastructure funds for specific communities or specific technologies. This action places a great deal of discretion in the hands of the Secretary and his staff. We must make sure that in allocating the funds contained in this bill, that the decision making process is fair, even-handed and free of improper outside influence.”