[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

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     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.

                          ____________________