Sam Gibbons: “this week legislation creating the new Homeland Security Department will come before this Chamber for consideration. It…”

“this week legislation creating the new Homeland Security Department will come before this Chamber for consideration. It will mark perhaps the most historic congressional debate in decades. The last time Congress considered such a considerable reorganization of the Federal Government was back in 1947 under the Truman administration. Now we must once again reorganize the Federal Government to better meet the new challenges that our country faces. Mr. Speaker, I have been quite impressed with the commitment of both this House and of the administration to move forward expeditiously with a plan to create an efficient and effective Department of Homeland Security. I have been greatly concerned over turf wars between agencies and among our congressional committees, yet our committees have worked together in a true bipartisan fashion for the people of America. I look forward to our debate on the Homeland Security Department, and am confident that our work will enable our Nation to be better prepared for the new challenges it faces in the 21st century.”