Thad Cochran: “I thought the distinguished Senator from Tennessee made a very compelling argument about this amendment, which he has…”

“I thought the distinguished Senator from Tennessee made a very compelling argument about this amendment, which he has offered. We have heard him discuss his ideas on federalism, and there is no better proponent of clear thinking on that issue than the Senator from Tennessee. But what occurred to me when I was sitting here is that I have heard some of these arguments before. I started thinking back to the hearings that were held and the markup sessions that were held in the Governmental Affairs Committee, the committee of legislative jurisdiction, when the Department of Homeland Security was being created by Congress to more effectively--with a better Federal organization of talent and wherewithal--cope with the challenges from threats to the security of our homeland. Many of these issues were discussed in great detail. I remember the Senator from Connecticut, in particular, Mr. Lieberman, being in a position of leadership on the committee at that time. We had other talented Senators working on that authorizing legislation. What is happening to us, I am afraid, is as we get about the business of implementing the changes in our laws that were made by the creation of this new Department, and the creation of new agencies to implement and carry out these responsibilities in a coherent way--the policymakers have their guidance from that legislation, but we now here are considering an appropriations bill.”