Robin Carnahan: “the attacks of September 11 changed us as individuals and as a nation. They changed the way we think about our personal…”

“the attacks of September 11 changed us as individuals and as a nation. They changed the way we think about our personal security, and they challenged our assumptions about the threats posed by groups and organizations hostile to our values and our way of life. The events of the past year have also bolstered our resolve. We have come a long way since that terrible day, but much more needs to be done. We have toppled the Taliban and severely disrupted the al-Qaida network, but our military is still working around the clock to destroy al-Qaida elements around the world. We have dramatically improved security at our airports, but we have much to do to protect our aviation system, our ports, and our borders. We have spent billions to recover from the attacks, but unfortunately we must spend more to protect our homeland from threats ranging from bioterrorism to dirty bombs. Today, we are focused on reorganizing our Federal Government to meet these new security challenges. I believe creating a new Federal Department of Homeland Security is the right thing to do. We need one agency whose exclusive focus is controlling our borders and protecting our homeland. That is why I support the bill before the Senate. I commend Senator Lieberman for the leadership and tenacity he has shown in getting us to this point.”