Peter King: “I have to reluctantly but strongly urge defeat of the rule today. The reason I say that, Mr. Speaker, is that the bill…”

“I have to reluctantly but strongly urge defeat of the rule today. The reason I say that, Mr. Speaker, is that the bill which did pass through the Homeland Security Committee under Chairman Thompson's leadership, passed by a vote of 26-0, was a truly bipartisan effort. There was cooperation from all sides, and we came together to fashion what I believe was a very constructive and significant piece of legislation in an area which obviously is of vital importance to our Nation. The Department of Homeland Security has been in existence now only several years. It is in its fourth year. We are talking about 22 different Departments and agencies, 180,000 employees. And it is making progress, but much more has to be done. And to address it, we have to do it in a bipartisan way. Unfortunately, the bill that comes to the floor today has been either stripped or dramatically modified up to 50 percent of the original provisions.”