James Oberstar: “Mr. Chairman, here we are crafting the first new department of government in many years and I am a little surprised. It…”

“Mr. Chairman, here we are crafting the first new department of government in many years and I am a little surprised. It is Alice in Wonderland. It is verdict first, evidence later. A provision in this legislation would extend a deadline for screening of checked luggage aboard aircraft by explosive detection systems out off into the future after last year, just eight months ago in this very Chamber, we voted 410 to 9 to set a deadline of December 31, 2002 to do that very job. Where is the evidence that we need to do that? Where is the evidence that should precede the verdict that this great Nation cannot accomplish that task that we have set forth by an overwhelming vote in this body? I frankly am offended that we would hardly, as the ink dries on the Transportation Security Administration law, hardly is the President's pronouncement of a need for a Department of Homeland Security than this body will become and begin to undermine that very security.”