José E. Serrano: “let me first simply say on a comment that we just heard on the House floor that it is related to taxes, because it is a…”

“let me first simply say on a comment that we just heard on the House floor that it is related to taxes, because it is a simple mathematical equation. If we have less money to spend because we give it away to the rich, then we have less money for education, for housing, for senior citizens, and for homeland security; and this is a fact of life. However, having said that, I want to take this opportunity, first, to thank the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the chairman, and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo) for this historic moment in putting together this bill. This bill, in my opinion, has some deficiencies; but on the other hand, it is a historic bill. It is the first time we have attempted to put together a bill like this and to take care of a need. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I rise in reluctant support of H.R. 2555. On September 11, everything changed in this country. The savage attacks on New York and Washington brought home to America that the threat of terrorism at home was terribly real. Among the responses by Congress were the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the reorganization of the Committee on Appropriations to oversee and fund the new Department.”