[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 26 (Monday, February 12, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1426-H1430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 
                                SECURITY

  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 134) recognizing and honoring the employees of the 
Department of Homeland Security for their efforts and contributions to 
protect and secure the Nation.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 134

       Whereas the United States must remain vigilant against all 
     threats to the homeland, including acts of terrorism, natural 
     disasters, and other emergencies;
       Whereas the Department of Homeland Security marked its 4th 
     anniversary on January 24, 2007;
       Whereas the more than 208,000 employees of the Department 
     work tirelessly to prepare the Nation to counter acts of 
     terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies;
       Whereas the Department's employees work diligently to 
     deter, detect, and prevent acts of terrorism;
       Whereas the Department's employees stand willing, ready, 
     and able to respond if catastrophe strikes;
       Whereas the Department's employees support the Department's 
     mission to protect continuously the Nation's borders, 
     airports, seaports, rail lines, and other transit systems;
       Whereas the Department's employees, together with employees 
     of other agencies and departments of the Federal Government, 
     work with State, local, and tribal partners to enhance 
     disaster preparedness at all levels of government;
       Whereas the Department's employees are called upon to 
     sacrifice time with their families to work long hours to 
     fulfill the Department's vital mission; and
       Whereas the Nation is indebted to the Department's 
     employees for their efforts and contributions: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives recognizes and 
     honors the employees of the Department of Homeland Security 
     for their exceptional efforts and contributions to protect 
     and secure the Nation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Carney) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Bilirakis) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

[[Page H1427]]

                             General Leave

  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on this legislation and insert extraneous material on the bill into the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Just over 5 years ago, September 11 redefined our national security 
needs. With the loss of thousands of innocent lives at the World Trade 
Center, the Pentagon and in my home State of Pennsylvania, national 
leaders realized that the Federal Government needed the ability to 
better protect the United States from any and all threats, foreign or 
domestic, natural or man-made. And while emergency management agencies 
displayed resilience in the aftermath of 9/11, it was clear we needed 
an organization that could coordinate their efforts. We needed a single 
agency with the ability to prevent another 9/11 and to respond, if need 
be, to natural or man-made disasters.
  To answer this call, Congress passed the Homeland Security Act of 
2002 creating the Department of Homeland Security. In the largest 
reorganization of the Federal Government since the formation of the 
Department of Defense six decades ago, the Department of Homeland 
Security was tasked with the Herculean responsibility of coordinating 
with State, local and tribal entities to prevent future terrorist 
attacks, to secure our borders and to prepare for and respond to events 
of national significance.
  Comprised of 22 different Federal agencies and employing over 208,000 
of our finest Federal employees, DHS has become one of the largest 
Federal departments. Twenty-four hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a 
year, employees from the Department of Homeland Security are working to 
prevent and prepare for any threats to our country. They are patrolling 
our skies, securing our borders, sailing our coastal waters and 
screening people and cargo entering our country. They are also working 
with State and local governments and first responders in all 50 States 
and our territories to ensure we can respond to any future large-scale 
events, either man-made or natural.

                              {time}  1415

  These dedicated Homeland Security employees are working tirelessly to 
improve the safety of all Americans and are doing a job that we must 
commend.
  Recently, the Office of Personnel Management released the results of 
the 2006 Federal Human Capital Survey, a review of how Federal 
employees feel about their work. Many Americans may not have heard 
about this survey or its findings, but they are significant.
  DHS employees expressed frustration over a number of issues, most 
notably the management of the agency. These rank-and-file workers, on 
the front lines day after day, feel they are not being managed in the 
most effective manner possible. This disconnect between management and 
the line officers of the department is very disturbing to a number of 
us here in Congress. We must work to resolve these issues.
  The last thing we need is for the morale problems of the Department 
of Homeland Security to hamper the duties of those front-line 
employees. As a former first responder myself, I know how important it 
is to have trust and faith in your management. While there was 
certainly shocking failures at the management levels of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency in the Hurricane Katrina response, there is 
a good example; that is, the United States Coast Guard which is part of 
the DHS. It covered itself in glory by performing one of its most vital 
and successful missions since its creation. Over 20,000 gulf coast 
residents were rescued by the devoted men and women of the Coast Guard.
  Tens of thousands of other line officers under the purview of the DHS 
have been doing a thankless job for the last 4 years as well. Our 
Nation must remain vigilant against all threats to the homeland, 
against acts of terrorism and natural disasters.
  Department of Homeland Security employees stand willing, ready and 
able to respond should catastrophe strike. They work long hours to 
deter, detect, and prevent acts of terrorism against the homeland. They 
can be sure that during this Congress and beyond, my colleagues and I 
will maintain oversight of the management of Homeland Security, but I 
cannot stress enough how we truly appreciate the work of the DHS 
employees who are working tirelessly to protect the safety of all 
Americans.
  On January 24, the Department of Homeland Security marked its fourth 
anniversary. In light of this anniversary, it is fitting and 
appropriate for the House of Representatives to take a moment to honor 
the employees.
  I would also like to take a moment to note that Mr. Rogers of 
Alabama, the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Management, 
Investigations, and Oversight, wanted to be here as well. He is 
currently out of town on a codel, but he stands with me in honoring the 
employees of the Department of Homeland Security.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to unanimously adopt House 
Resolution 134 in honoring the employees of the Department of Homeland 
Security.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 134, which honors and 
recognizes the contributions the employees of the Department of 
Homeland Security make to our country's safety and security.
  I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of this resolution with my 
Homeland Security colleague, Christopher Carney, who chairs the 
Management, Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee. I also want to 
acknowledge other original cosponsors, including my subcommittee 
ranking member, Mike Rogers, full committee chairman Bennie Thompson, 
and full committee ranking member Peter King, a man who has worked on 
Homeland Security issues, and I greatly admire his work.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to help bring this resolution to the floor 
today because I think that DHS employees are too often overlooked and 
underappreciated, and unfairly criticized in most cases despite their 
most dedicated and earnest efforts to do their job, which they do very 
well.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that they have been tasked with an almost 
impossible job, I think you will agree, and am confident that DHS 
employees are doing the very best they can under some extraordinary, 
difficult circumstances.
  I was, however, particularly disappointed to learn, as the recent 
survey shows, that the morale of the department is low, and that DHS 
employees have less job satisfaction than any other group of Federal 
employees. That is not good to see. I have heard that the department's 
employees are concerned that they do not have the resources to do their 
jobs effectively, that they are not promoted based on merit, that 
creativity and innovation are not properly rewarded, and, perhaps most 
troubling, most of them do not believe that they have access to 
adequate information about what is happening in their department.
  This needs to change, as far as I am concerned. I am heartened that 
department secretary, Michael Jackson, has told DHS employees, 
``Starting at the top, the leadership team across DHS is committed to 
address the underlying reason for DHS employee dissatisfaction and 
suggestions for improvement.''
  I also commend DHS Secretary, Michael Chertoff, in comments before 
our committee last week for acknowledging the problem and promising to 
fix it. I believe it is imperative to the security of our homeland that 
the dedicated men and women who carry out the directives and policies 
that Congress puts forward feel good about themselves and the jobs that 
they are doing so they can best achieve the very noble goals toward 
which they are working.
  It should be proud of the work the more than 200,000 employees at DHS 
work tirelessly to help prevent and respond to acts of terrorism, 
natural disasters and other emergencies. I think Secretary Chertoff's 
directive to the Homeland Security Advisory Council to establish a 
culture task force to respond on ways to empower, energize,

[[Page H1428]]

and create a more mission-focused culture within DHS and among its 
Federal, State and local partners was a good first step.
  I would say, however, that the answers lie not in creating more 
bureaucracy but in streamlining and better defining the mission of DHS 
headquarters and allowing its component organizations to use their 
particular talents and expertise to accomplish their individual mission 
in as efficient, creative, and innovative manner as possible.
  I also believe we must acknowledge the role that Congress has played 
and will continue to play in the ultimate success or failure of the 
department in accomplishing its mission of defending America and saving 
lives. We in this body must be sensitive to the demands and mandates 
that we place on DHS employees in the conduct of the war.
  I think we can all agree that an overwhelming majority of DHS 
employees are hardworking, as I said. They are dedicated and 
hardworking individuals who are personally committed to keeping us, our 
families, our country secure from terrorist attacks and other disasters 
that could befall this great Nation.
  We must remember, however, that decentralized congressional 
jurisdiction over Homeland Security issues and the desire to provide 
proper oversight often makes it difficult for them to do their job. I 
hope that, especially as members of the Homeland Security Committee, we 
do not unintentionally make their jobs more difficult in our desire to 
do our jobs.
  I want to thank full committee chairman Bennie Thompson, ranking 
member Peter King, subcommittee chairman Chris Carney, and subcommittee 
ranking member Mike Rogers for bringing this resolution to the floor 
today.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution and recognize 
the contributions DHS employees make to protect and secure our Nation. 
They should know that we understand the daily challenges they face and 
appreciate the dedication and hard work, the professionalism which they 
embody, and they conduct themselves in a fine manner.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert).
  Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Homeland 
Security, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 134. This resolution 
recognizes and honors the employees of the Department of Homeland 
Security for their exceptional efforts and contributions to protect and 
secure the Nation.
  Since the creation of the Department of Homeland Security 4 years 
ago, the department has made significant steps in ensuring the safety 
of the American people, specifically with regard to preparing, 
equipping and training our first responders, protecting our skies, and 
securing our borders and ports.
  In my home State of Washington, we have almost 2,000 people working 
for the Department of Homeland Security, including 178 members of the 
Coast Guard, 337 Immigration employees and Custom Enforcement officers, 
and 1,282 Transportation Security Administration employees. Many of 
these men and women put their lives on the line every day to ensure 
that another 9/11 attack does not occur.
  In addition to protecting us from another terrorist attack, the 
Department of Homeland Security employees thwart human smuggling 
networks and disrupt the international drug trade. An example of these 
efforts is in 2005 a discovery of a tunnel between the United States 
and Canada that would have been used to smuggle drugs into the United 
States.
  Mr. Speaker, it is easy to come to this floor and come together in a 
bipartisan way and pass a resolution to say that we support the men and 
women who work in the Department of Homeland Security. It is easy to 
talk about morale. It is easy to criticize the men and women who 
protect our children, protect our neighbors and protect our communities 
and are out there every day. We need to show by action.
  We need to support them in our legislation that we pass that provides 
them with the tools and the resources they need to do their job. I was 
in law enforcement 33 years in the Seattle area. I know that when I 
made a life-and-death decision, I had the support of my administration, 
I had the support of my leadership.
  Our men and women who work for the Department of Homeland Security 
need a strong leadership. And our strong leadership can be supported by 
people right here in this body, by supporting them again with their 
resources and the tools that they need.
  Mr. Speaker, the employees of the Department of Homeland Security 
have a tough job, a very tough job. They not only need our strong words 
of support here today, and the support that we bring with our vote in 
supporting this resolution, but they need our respect, and our 
admiration each and every day as they are out there protecting our 
country, our children, and the future of our grandchildren.
  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such 3 minutes to the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Poe).
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I too support the efforts of the men and women 
who work in Homeland Security. As a former judge in Texas for over 20 
years, I appreciate all of those in our country who are in law 
enforcement. But I was disappointed and concerned to hear that this 
department who is tasked with protecting our Nation's borders, ports, 
and other critical infrastructure is ranked dead last in employee 
attitude and morale of all 36 Federal departments surveyed.
  To me it reflects the poor and often ambiguous leadership and 
policies at the top of the department, and I hope Congress can work 
together to correct this and correct it soon before someone does harm 
to our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, let me provide a couple of absurd examples of maybe the 
reason why those who are working at the Department of Homeland Security 
are so frustrated. Three years ago this Saturday, a couple of our 
border agents witnessed a drug smuggler illegally entering our country, 
bringing a million dollars worth of drugs.
  They order the perpetrator to stop, he doesn't, the agents pursue the 
suspect, a scuffle ensues and shots are fired. Mr. Speaker, a different 
kind of environment exists on our Nation's border in the fight against 
drug smugglers, human traffickers, and terrorists. These two border 
agents, Ramos and Compean entered the Border Patrol and were trained 
with the sole duty of protecting Americans, you and me, and the 
sovereignty of this country.
  Well, Mr. Speaker, these agents were not commended for their actions 
in preventing what turned out to be 700 pounds of marijuana from 
reaching the streets of America. No, they were prosecuted for it, 
convicted, and now sit in Federal prison for a decade for doing what 
they felt like was the right thing to do.
  Our Federal Government made a deal with the drug smuggler, a back-
room deal and let him loose to go after the border agents. No wonder 
there is low morale. You see, it is a violation of Border Patrol 
regulations to go after someone who is fleeing. The Border Patrol 
pursuit policy is unrealistic by prohibiting the pursuit of someone. 
This is ridiculous.
  Also border agents cannot fire their weapon unless they are fired 
upon first. This is absurd. Now, some old Texas Ranger once said, No 
lawman should have to take a bullet before he can use his weapon. When 
border agents are approached by illegals carrying automatic weapons, 
they should not have to run away and retreat or be fired at before they 
stop the intrusion.

                              {time}  1430

  I guess this rule was conjured up by some bureaucrat up here in 
Washington, DC that has never been to the southern border, maybe 
conjured up for some political reasons.
  Mr. Speaker, when we ask the border agents to protect the lawless and 
violent southern border, we need to give them clear rules of engagement 
to prevent the invasion into our Nation. We need to support them, and 
we need to let them know that Congress will support their actions.
  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green).

[[Page H1429]]

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Thank you, Congressman Carney, for bringing 
this important piece of legislation before the House.
  Today, friends, we will honor and we will respect the fourth 
anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security. In so doing, we 
understand that it has been a rocky 4 years, but the importance of this 
mission of Homeland Security has only grown.
  We must never forget the crucial mission of the Department of 
Homeland Security and that it cannot be fulfilled without the people 
who make up the Department of Homeland Security.
  While there have been some difficult times, it is time for us to 
acknowledge that there are some good people working in the Department 
of Homeland Security. These people are heroes who work day and night 
keeping our country safe. They sacrifice their time. They are often 
away from their families, and they do a thankless job too often. So we 
are here today to say thank you, not only to those who are in the lofty 
offices and who hold high positions, but we are also here today to say 
thank you to those who sweep the floors, those who file the paperwork, 
those who answer the phones, those who are making a difference in the 
lives of Americans by making sure that while we are on their watch we 
are protected.
  I want you to know that while the Department came in dead last with 
reference to job satisfaction for Federal employees, according to a 
recent OPM survey, and we know that this is unacceptable, they were 
dead last; but I believe that they can improve. I believe that they 
will do better. And I want to share my optimism because the Department 
of Homeland Security is a Department that every one of us is depending 
on who lives in the homeland. So the leadership in this Department must 
do better.
  Congress today, I believe, stands with the rank and file employees of 
this Department, and we want everyone to do better, and we are here to 
support all of those many employees who are working hard for us.
  So I ask today that my colleagues join me in supporting and in 
embracing this resolution for the Department of Homeland Security. They 
are making a difference in our lives.
  The Department recently saw its fourth anniversary. It has been a 
rocky 4 years, but the importance of its mission has only grown.
  We must never forget that the crucial mission of the Department 
cannot be fulfilled without the people who make it up. .
  These heroes work day and night keeping our country safe, sacrificing 
time with their families, doing often thankless jobs. We are here today 
to thank them.
  The Department came in last in the recent OPM survey of job 
satisfaction of Federal employees. This is unacceptable. The 
Department's leadership must do better; it must listen to the people on 
the front lines.
  Congress stands with these rank-and-file employees. We will do our 
part to see that the Department does better by them.
  We have criticized the Department's management and decisions in the 
past, but no one should mistake this for criticism of the men and women 
on the front lines, day after day.
  Please join me in honoring these everyday heroes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to be 
here today to honor the employees of the Department of Homeland 
Security. Four years ago the Department came into being with the 
crucial mission of protecting and securing our homeland.
  It has been a tough 4 years, and the importance of this mission has 
only grown with time. If you watch the news, you hear all the acronyms 
for the different parts of the Department--DHS, CBP, FEMA, ICE, FPS, 
TSA, and the list goes on.
  I fear that this alphabet soup may hide the faces of the people who 
make up the many pieces of the Department. But the vital mission of 
these different components cannot be fulfilled without the people who 
make them up. For example, the U.S. Secret Service does not protect the 
President--Secret Service Agents protect the President. United States 
Customs and Border Protection does not protect our ports of entry, 
Customs and Border Protection officers do that.
  The Border Patrol does not guard our border, Border Patrol Agents 
guard the border. The Coast Guard does not watch our shores and rescue 
our citizens, Coast Guard men and women do. I could go on, but the 
point is the same: It is not the ``Department'' that gives up family 
time to help secure our Nation. It is not the ``Department'' that works 
nights, weekends, and holidays. It is not the ``Department'' that puts 
its life on the line. It is the people of the Department who make these 
sacrifices.
  Let's not forget that these everyday heroes I just mentioned can't do 
their jobs without the support personnel in their agencies and 
Directorates--the contracting officers, administrative assistants, 
technical support teams, financial managers, and many more. While these 
folks don't always get the best support and guidance from their 
management, that in no way diminishes their efforts and sacrifices. It 
pained me to see the recent Office of Personnel Management survey, in 
which the Department ranks last in terms of job satisfaction. For the 
sake of its employees--and for the security of our Nation--the 
Department's management must do better. I have been critical of the 
Department's management and some of its decisions in the past, and I'm 
sure I will be in the future. But no one should mistake my occasional 
criticism of the way this Department has been run with criticism for 
the fine men and women who are on the front lines, day after day. I 
pledge to the employees of the Department that the Committee on 
Homeland Security will not ignore this problem. We will do our part to 
see that things improve. We will work with the management of the 
Department when we can--but we will also give them a gentle push in the 
right direction when we need to. As Chairman of the Committee on 
Homeland Security, it is an honor for me to stand here today in support 
of this resolution. This Nation must never forget the lessons of 9/11 
and Katrina. And it must never take for granted the men and women who 
go out every day with one purpose: to do their best, in ways small and 
large, to keep us all safe. I urge all the Members of the House to join 
me in honoring these everyday heroes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 134, to recognize the employees of the Department of Homeland 
Security for their efforts and contributions to protect and secure the 
Nation.
  The Department of Homeland Security is critical in ensuring our great 
nation's preparation for future terrorist threats and attacks. Its 
employees step beyond the ordinary call of duty and tirelessly help to 
prepare our Nation to counter acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and 
other emergencies.
  After the events of September 11, 2001 the American people became 
painfully aware of the difference between feeling secure and actually 
being secure. The president responded to the need for development and 
implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to secure the U.S. 
from terrorist threats or attacks and thus on November 25, 2002 with 
the largest government reorganization in 50 years, DHS was established.
  More than 208,000 employees of the Department work with state, local 
and tribal partners to ensure disaster preparedness at all levels of 
government while sacrificing their invaluable time with their family 
and working long hours to stand willing, able, and ready to respond if 
catastrophe strikes.
  The Homeland Security Department's employees not only stand vigilant 
and steadfast against terrorist attacks but fulfill the mission of the 
department to protect continuously our Nation's borders, airport, 
seaports, rail lines, and other transit systems.
  While it is fitting and appropriate to recognize the contributions of 
DHS employees, Mr. Speaker, it is also necessary to recognize that this 
Administration continues to deny labor rights to some of the most vital 
workers in the Transportation Security Administration--the TSA 
Screeners. Hiding behind the argument and the rhetoric that it needs a 
flexible security screening force, the Bush Administration continues to 
equate basic collective bargaining rights with a lack of patriotism. 
That is, the Administration is operating under the mistaken belief that 
allowing employees to collectively bargain for rights that others at 
DHS have will negatively impact homeland security. This is simply 
untrue.
  If the Administration's argument were true, then this means that the 
law enforcement officers at the Border Patrol, Customs and Border 
Protection, and the Federal Protective Services are all negatively 
impacting homeland security--since these brave men and women have 
collective bargaining rights. And, despite having these rights, these 
folks are part of a flexible and highly sought after human resource, 
just like the TSA Screeners. So, as we honor all DHS employees, Mr. 
Speaker, let us not forget that we must do more to make DHS a fair and 
equitable place to work.
  I thank Congressmen Carney and Bilirakis for managing this important 
bipartisan legislation and I strongly urge my colleagues to stand 
together to commend, applaud and commemorate the employees of the DHS. 
Their important duties extend beyond the ordinary. They protect our 
homeland and our people.
  DHS employees have sacrificed and worked tirelessly to safely protect 
us not only from terrorist attacks but our borders as well as our 
airports, seaports, rail lines, and other transit systems. For this, 
they deserve our gratitude.

[[Page H1430]]

  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I would inquire as to whether the gentleman 
from Florida has any more speakers.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I do not.
  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on 
House Resolution 134.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Carney) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 134.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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