[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 68 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S4819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S4819]]
                  THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I wish to express my gratitude to the two 
leaders for the order that has been entered with respect to the 
supplemental appropriations bill. That bill is a good bill. It was 
reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on yesterday by a 
vote of 29 to 0. It had unanimous support in the reporting of it on 
yesterday. That unanimous vote could not have been possible without the 
cooperation and support and leadership of the distinguished Senator 
from Alaska and the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, Mr. 
Ted Stevens.
  The committee held extensive hearings, and the Senator from Alaska 
and I joined in issuing the request for witnesses. Every witness that 
came before the committee had been agreed upon jointly by the Senator 
from Alaska and myself. Those hearings were important, they were 
productive, and they brought forth exceedingly valuable information to 
the members of the committee. And that information is reflected in the 
makeup of the appropriations bill.
  We had the local responders, the firemen, the police, the emergency 
health employees. We had seven Cabinet officers from the 
administration, and we also had the Director of FEMA. We had mayors. We 
had Governors. I was pleased with the hearings. I am very grateful and 
appreciative of the efforts that were made by Senator Stevens and the 
Members on both sides of the aisle. The hearings were very well 
attended. So it is a good bill.
  The war on terrorism proceeds. The Congress is receiving top secret 
briefings from the Secretary of Defense and the FBI Director almost 
weekly. The country is on a heightened state of alert.
  On March 21, 2002, the President submitted a supplemental budget 
request to prosecute that war.
  The principal components of the President's budget request included 
$14 billion for the Department of Defense; $5.3 billion for homeland 
defense, including $4.4 billion for the recently established 
Transportation Security Administration, $5.5 billion for New York in 
response to the September 11 attacks, $1.6 billion for international 
emergencies.
  This supplemental bill provides for those emergencies, as requested 
by the President.
  Just today, President Bush said, ``We've still got threats to the 
homeland that we've got to deal with, and it's very important for us 
not to hamper our ability to wage that war. . . .''
  That is exactly what the supplemental appropriations deals with--
homeland security.
  The supplemental bill includes $8.35 billion for homeland defense, 
and increase of $3 billion over the budget request. This $3 billion 
focuses on problems that were identified during our homeland defense 
hearings.
  Our committee held very extensive hearings. We heard from the first 
responders, the state and local law enforcement personnel, the fire and 
medical personnel, individuals representing the ports, and those who 
had concerns about cyber security and the security of our nuclear 
weapons facilities and nuclear labs. We heard from those who are 
concerned about border security, airport security, food and 
agricultural safety, nuclear non-proliferation programs, and the 
vulnerability of our water systems. We heard from seven cabinet 
secretaries and the director of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency.
  All of this information led us to formulate a supplemental 
appropriations bill which cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee 
by a recorded vote of twenty-nine to zero.
  Highlights include: $1.0 billion, $646 million above the request for 
first responder programs such as firefighting grants, State and local 
law enforcement grants, grants to State and local governments to fix 
the interoperability problem between State and local police, fire and 
medical personnel, emergency planning grants, funds to increase the 
number of FEMA search and rescue teams that have the training and 
equipment to combat biological, chemical and nuclear attacks and funds 
to make sure that we have standards for interoperable equipment; $970 
million, $716 million above the request for port security including 
grants to improve security at ports, for increased Coast Guard 
surveillance, for increased Customs funding to improve container 
inspections overseas and to improve our technology on inspecting 
containers; $387 million of unrequested funds for bioterrorism, 
including funds to improve our toxicology and infectious disease lab 
capacity at the Centers for Disease Control; $200 million, $174 million 
above the request for security at our nuclear weapons facilities and 
nuclear labs; $154 million, $135 million above the request for cyber 
security, with a special emphasis on helping the private sector defend 
itself from attack; $125 million, $84 million above the request for 
border security, including resources for INS facilities on the borders 
and for deploying the system for rapid response criminal background 
checks to 30 more ports; $100 million of unrequested funds for nuclear 
nonproliferation programs; $265 million of unrequested funds for 
airport security, including $100 million to help airports meet the new 
Federal standards for airport security; $200 million for USDA for food 
safety labs, additional food inspectors, and for vulnerability 
assessments for rural water systems; $100 million for EPA to complete 
vulnerability assessments on the security of our water systems; and 
$286 million is provided for other homeland defense items such as 
Secret Service efforts to combat electronic crime, FBI counterterrorism 
efforts and funds for the Justice Department to develop an integrated 
information system.
  The bill fully funds the President's $4.4 billion request for the new 
Transportation Security Administration, unlike the House which cuts the 
request by $550 million.
  Just within the past few days, Vice President Cheney warned that a 
terrorist strike within our shores is ``almost certain.'' Defense 
Secretary Rumsfeld stated that it is inevitable that terrorists will 
acquire weapons of mass destruction. Secretary of State Colin Powell 
warned that ``terrorists are trying every way they can'' to get 
nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. Security has been tightened 
around New York City landmarks. And Homeland Security Director Tom 
Ridge said that, ``While we prepare for another terrorist attack, we 
need to understand that it is not a question of if, but a question of 
when.''
  The warnings are clear. The danger is real. We should act, not delay. 
We should protect lives, not play politics. I urge Senators to move 
forward with this supplemental bill and to do so quickly.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished chairman of our 
Appropriations Committee for his kind remarks and join him in 
recommending the bill to the Senate that we will debate when we return.

                          ____________________