Sam Gibbons: “Yesterday President Bush formally opened the Office of Homeland Security and appointed Governor Tom Ridge as its…”

“Yesterday President Bush formally opened the Office of Homeland Security and appointed Governor Tom Ridge as its Director. I applaud the President's efforts, and I am pleased with his vision for the office. Yet, concerns have arisen regarding how much control Governor Ridge will actually have. As Ash Carter of the Boston Globe noted, 'White House czars have historically been toothless, unable to control activities of cabinet bureaucracies. To be effective as homeland security czar, Ridge will need influence over the budgets.' That is why I joined with the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman) in introducing the Office of Homeland Security Act. Our bill will make the office permanent under color of law and provide Governor Ridge the budget authority he will need to coordinate the Federal agencies and resources necessary to protect America from terrorism. Mr. Speaker, passage of this legislation is critical to our efforts to combat terrorism here at home. I encourage all of my colleagues to support it.”