Tom Cole: “I believe the debate has been an excellent discussion underlining many of the substantive concerns of both sides of a…”

“I believe the debate has been an excellent discussion underlining many of the substantive concerns of both sides of a complex issue. But let us make one thing clear, this bill is about America's security and the way that Congress will deal with a catastrophe of unprecedented proportions. To ignore this basic fact is to ignore the warnings of history and the tragedy of September 11. This is not what this legislation is about. It is about establishing an orderly procedure to ensure the continuity of the House in the aftermath of a catastrophic event. The potential for this was underlined by what occurred on September 11. We cannot ignore those facts or ignore the realities and dangers of a changed international and geopolitical environment. To do so would be irresponsible.”