Thad Cochran: “we appreciate very much the Senator's amendment and discussion of the Scowcroft Commission report and whether the…”

“we appreciate very much the Senator's amendment and discussion of the Scowcroft Commission report and whether the contents of that report should be declassified. That is, as I understand it, the purpose of the amendment, to make that information public. What I hope we can do in the consideration of this appropriations bill is to keep our attention focused on the funding of the Department of Homeland Security activities. That is the purpose of this appropriations bill. We have worked very hard with colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to identify priorities. We fully considered the President's budget request on issues surrounding funding levels. We know we do not have unlimited budget authority. We are limited by an allocation from the full Committee on Appropriations in the Senate. I hope we defer this issue to the consideration of the authorizing committee. The Intelligence Committee has this issue under review. As a matter of fact, this issue has already been raised, as I understand it, in hearings that are being held in consideration of the so-called 9/11 Commission recommendations. We have had that report before the Senate. There are a number of other committees looking into these issues. But the Appropriations Committee is trying to get funds approved by the Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security needs for this next fiscal year beginning October 1.”