Political Quotes

“I am pleased this bill takes important steps to strengthen homeland security by ensuring workable procedures and systems are designed within the federal government to facilitate the sharing of homeland security information among federal, state, territorial and local officials. Further, I am especially pleased that the bill ensures that the territories are included. We must ensure that information critical to homeland security is shared between important federal agencies and the territorial and local governments of Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Homeland security concerns apply for all Americans, irrespective of whether they reside in the 50 states or U.S. territories. Towards this end I am pleased to support H.R. 4598, and I look forward to receiving the President's report required by this legislation to help determine what additional measures are needed to increase the effectiveness of sharing information among all levels of government. I hope this report will assess the needs of the territories and not just the 50 states.”