Patrick Leahy: “the idea of coordinating homeland security functions in a cabinet-level department is a constructive one and a sounds…”

“the idea of coordinating homeland security functions in a cabinet-level department is a constructive one and a sounds one. In large part it originated in this body with legislation offered by Senator Lieberman and Senator Specter, who deserve great credit for their work. President Bush, after initially opposing this idea, also deserves credit for coming to understand its value and for reversing his administration's resistance to it. In the several months that the Congress has spent in writing and debating this complex bill, the issue has not been whether such a department should be created, but how it should be created. The Judiciary Committee, which I chair, has played a constructive role in examining these issues in our hearings and in providing guidance in the writing of this bill, and I have supported and helped to advance the key objectives envisioned for this new department. The fact that we are on the verge of enacting a charter for the new department is good for the Nation and our efforts to defend the American people against the threats of terrorism. Many of the 'hows' that have found their way into this bill, and the process by which that has happened, are a needless blot on this charter. As we act to approve this charter, we should also feel obligated to remedy many of these ill-advised and ill-considered provisions in succeeding congressional sessions, through corrective steps and through close oversight.”