Congressional Record, Volume 151 Issue 1 (Tuesday, January 4, 2005)

[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 4, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H35-H37]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

PROVIDING AMOUNTS FOR INTERIM EXPENSES OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND
SECURITY IN THE FIRST SESSION OF THE 109TH CONGRESS

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 10) and ask
unanimous consent for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Ohio?
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to
object, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) to
explain the purpose of the resolution.
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Connecticut
(Mr. Larson) for yielding to me.
I rise today in support of the resolution to provide interim funding
for the Committee on Homeland Security in the first session of the
109th Congress. The Committee on Homeland Security was not established
as a permanent committee until this Congress. It was a select committee
previously. Therefore, they did not fall under the House rules
providing interim funding for other committees. We have a series of
interim funding for our existing committees.
This resolution will provide the necessary funds for the committee to
continue its work from January 3 through March 31. The committee will
then receive funding, we hope, for the duration of the 109th Congress;
and that is when we will attempt by that time to bring out a permanent
funding resolution for all committees so it would then receive its
funding for the duration of the 109th Congress, all the public
committees of the House.
Once the committee funding resolution is adopted, then the system
will go back to its regular order. I ask support for this legislation.
(Mr. LARSON of Connecticut asked and was given permission to revise
and extend his remarks.)
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, further reserving my right to
object, I want to take a moment to both thank and applaud the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr. Ney) for his diligence in determining the need for and
pursuing the necessary funding for the authority for the new Committee
of Homeland Security.
I think he has described amply the need and the necessity under which
the circumstances arose and why this resolution is so important.
Third, I wanted to just take a brief moment to reflect on the
extraordinary efforts of the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) and
the former ranking minority member, Jim Turner, who is no longer with
us, who took a skeletal concept of a committee and have turned it into
a robust working reality.
I would like to extend my own deep sense of appreciation to former
representative Jim Turner for his extraordinary leadership and
contributions on national security issues and, in particular, homeland
security during the 108th Congress.
As the first ranking member of the Select Committee on Homeland
Security, he vigorously pursued oversight

[[Page H36]]

and legislation to enhance the security of the American people. His
diligent and purposeful efforts have prompted the leadership of our
country to move faster with a strong and smart sense of purpose to
preserve and protect the security of our Nation.
During the first 2 years of the Select Committee on Homeland
Security's existence, his work resulted in a number of significant
initiatives and related efforts that we pause and honor today. In
particular, in April of last year former Representative Turner released
a 90-page comprehensive plan to eliminate the threat of al Qaeda to the
United States. The report, which includes over a hundred specific
recommendations, sets forth a strategy to win the current war against
al Qaeda and like-minded groups. Produced with the assistance of
Democratic leadership and other committees, winning the war on terror
reaffirms the commitment and need to prevail in the U.S. struggle
against terrorism.

{time} 1745

The comprehensive plan played a large role in the introduction later
in the 108th Congress of winning the War on Terror Act, H.R. 5291,
designed to implement a series of initiatives and defeat terrorists and
enemies.
Mr. Turner's accomplishments and what he was able to do in
conjunction with the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) serve as a
standard for the way that committees should proceed in this area. I
cannot commend him enough and will present further accolades attesting
to the attributes of Mr. Turner and the outstanding job he did on
behalf of the State of Texas and this great country of ours. His
service was exemplary, and I think this body owes him a great deal of
gratitude for the performance that he undertook, along with the
gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) on this committee, and to see this
committee today come to fruition as a full standing committee I think
is a tribute to both of their hard work and zeal.
The gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) will continue on. Mr. Turner,
of course, is no longer in this body but will long be remembered for
his diligent effort, his straightforward manner, his gentleman-like way
that he dealt with both sides of the issue and the manner in which he
was able to bring these very important issues to the floor of this
House to proceed in protecting this great Nation of ours from threat,
from dangers abroad and here at home.
Mr. Speaker, I want to say three things. First, I want to thank
Chairman Ney for his diligence in determining the need for, and in
pursuing the necessary funding authority for the new Committee on
Homeland Security.
Second, as the original co-sponsor of this resolution with Chairman
Ney, I want to take a moment to ensure that Members understand its
purpose. Although House rule X provides temporary interim funding for
committees which existed in the 108th Congress, and which the House
rules have recreated in the 109th Congress, this temporary interim
funding provision only applies to committees which succeed themselves
in the new Congress. The former Select Committee on Homeland Security
no longer exists, and the House rules have created a new, permanent
standing Committee on Homeland Security to take its place. Because of
this change, and in the absence of this resolution, the new Committee
on Homeland Security would not have resources to operate until the
House adopts the Omnibus Committee Funding Resolution sometime in
March.
By adopting the resolution, the House puts the new select committee
on essentially the same temporary funding basis as other committees.
Third, I want to take a moment to reflect on the extraordinary
efforts of Chairman Cox, and Ranking Minority Member Jim Turner, who
took the skeletal concept of a committee, and turned it into a robust,
working reality.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my own deep sense of appreciation
to Representative Jim Turner for his extraordinary leadership and
contributions on national security issues and, in particular, homeland
security during the 108th Congress. As the first ranking member of the
Select Committee on Homeland Security, he vigorously pursued oversight
and legislation to enhance the security of the American people. His
diligent and purposeful efforts have prompted the leadership of our
country to move faster, with a strong and smart sense of purpose, to
preserve and protect the security of our nation. During the first 2
years of the Homeland Security Committee's existence, his work resulted
in a number of significant initiatives and related efforts that I honor
today. In particular:
In April of last year, Representative Turner released a 90-page
comprehensive plan to eliminate the threat of al-Qaeda to the United
States. The report, which includes over 100 specific recommendations,
sets forth a strategy to win the current war against al-Qaeda and like-
minded groups. Produced with the assistance of the Democratic
leadership of other committees, Winning the War on Terror reaffirms the
commitment needed to prevail in the U.S. struggle against terrorism.
The comprehensive plan played a large role in the introduction later in
the 108th Congress of the Winning the War on Terror Act, H.R. 5291,
designed to implement a series of initiatives to defeat our terrorist
enemies.
In February, 2004, Representative Turner, in concert with his
Democratic colleagues on the Select Committee on Homeland Security,
released a comprehensive report, entitled America at Risk: Closing the
Security Gap, identifying the significant security gaps that continued
to remain across the United States more than 2 years after the attacks
of September 11. The comprehensive 135-page report identifies
shortcomings in our homeland security efforts and recommends specific
actions to ensure America is as safe as it needs to be from terrorist
attack. An additional six oversight reports were subsequently issued on
specific homeland security topics.
In September 2004, Representative Turner released a comprehensive
130-page report, entitled Transforming the Southern Border: Providing
Security and Prosperity in the Post-9/11 World, calling for the
transformation of the U.S. Southern Border to enhance security and
promote economic prosperity. The result of a 6-month oversight effort,
which included visits to multiple U.S. border communities, the report
highlights the many security gaps that exist on the southern border and
offers policy recommendations to close them. The comprehensive report
was followed later in the 108th Congress with the introduction of the
Secure Borders Act, H.R. 5130, to strengthen U.S. border security.
In addition to these efforts, Representative Turner, either alone or
in concert with his Democratic colleagues, sponsored 12 homeland
security legislative initiatives during the 108th Congress. Among other
subjects, Representative Turner's efforts resulted in the introduction
of the Prepare Act (H.R. 3158), containing unprecedented proposals to
reform the U.S. first responder grant system by determining--for the
first time--the essential capabilities needed to protect American
communities; and the Rapid Cures Act (H.R. 4258), designed to develop a
national plan to develop countermeasures to protect Americans against
the threat of bioterrorism.
Mr. Speaker, these are only a few examples of the extraordinary
contributions made by Representative Turner to our national homeland
security effort. His leadership within the Democratic Caucus, and as a
Member of the House on national security matters, has set a heightened
standard for all of us to emulate. On the day that we create the first-
ever permanent Committee on Homeland Security, it is fitting that we
remember and honor the service and dedication of Representative Jim
Turner.
Mr. Speaker, needless to say, as an original co-sponsor of this
temporary funding resolution for the new Committee on Homeland
Security, I urge each of my colleagues to support our country's
continuing efforts to fight terrorism by voting in favor of this
resolution.
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Connecticut,
our ranking member, for supporting the resolution and also agree with
his good and kind words about Mr. Turner.
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of
objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pearce). Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

H. Res. 10

Resolved,

SECTION 1. INTERIM EXPENSES OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND
SECURITY.

For interim expenses of the Committee on Homeland Security,
there shall be paid out of the applicable accounts of the
House of Representatives not more than $1,396,480.26.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION.

Amounts shall be available under this resolution for
expenses incurred during the period beginning at noon on
January 3, 2005, and ending at midnight on March 31, 2005,
except that the amount available during any month may not
exceed $465,493.42.

SEC. 3. VOUCHERS.

Payments under this resolution shall be made on vouchers
authorized by the Committee on Homeland Security, signed by
the

[[Page H37]]

chairman of such Committee, and approved in the manner
directed by the Committee on House Administration.

SEC. 4. REGULATIONS.

Amounts made available under this resolution shall be
expended in accordance with regulations prescribed by the
Committee on House Administration.

The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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