James Oberstar: “I compliment Chairman Thompson on the superb work he has done as Chair of the Committee on Homeland Security. He is the…”

“I compliment Chairman Thompson on the superb work he has done as Chair of the Committee on Homeland Security. He is the right man at the right time in the right place. He has approached his responsibility with great sincerity and focus of purpose. He has accomplished a great deal, an enormous amount in his first year as chairman. He has defended the House position on the Homeland Security 9/11 Commission Report to the best of his ability against a rather obstructive other body. I had great reservations about creating a Department of Homeland Security at its very outset. I opposed formation of the Department in 2002 on operational grounds. Four years later, I still question the Department's effectiveness in managing the responsibilities we have handed to it. On signing the Homeland Security Act in 2002, the President said, ``Our objective is to spend less on overhead and more on protecting neighborhoods and borders and waters and skies from terrorists.'' In at least one respect, this bill doesn't meet that objective. The conference report authorizes new rail, public transportation, and over-the-road bus security grant programs that will provide historically high levels of funding for those modes of transportation. I am for that. I support those needed investments.”