Ben Cardin: “first, I thank Senator Byrd and Senator Cochran and the members of the Appropriations Committee for the fine work they…”

“first, I thank Senator Byrd and Senator Cochran and the members of the Appropriations Committee for the fine work they have done on this 2008 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. As has been pointed out, this will provide $2.2 billion more than the President's request for homeland security. I note that it received the unanimous support of all members of the committee, and for good reason: It is an important investment in the security of our Nation. It provides the needed resources so we can deal with the security concerns in our own country, whether they be at our airports, seaports, rail stations, or in our home communities. That is what we should be doing. It should be our highest priority. I congratulate the committee for the manner in which it considered this legislation and has brought it forward. I urge us to move it forward as rapidly as possible. Two weeks ago, Michael Chertoff, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said he had a gut feeling our Nation is at an increased risk of a terrorist attack this summer.”