[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 98 (Monday, June 18, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 15, 2007

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Homeland 
Security Appropriations bill, and to congratulate Chairman Price on 
crafting an excellent bill. As the new Chairman of this subcommittee, 
Congressman Price worked hard to adequately fund programs that would 
enhance the security of all Americans while still maintaining a 
fiscally responsible budget. He has been a true champion and advocate 
for real and effective security for our Nation. This bill is a 
testament to the Chairman's leadership.
  I also want to acknowledge and thank the subcommittee staff for their 
hard work and dedication both throughout the extended hearing process 
and in preparing the bill and committee report.
  Chairman Price and our subcommittee based this bill on careful 
consideration of expert testimony given before our committee on the 
many serious security concerns facing our Nation. Over and over again 
we heard that another terrorist attack against our country was not a 
question of if, but of when.
  This bill helps to address these concerns by giving long overdue and 
sorely needed additional financial support to agencies and programs 
with major responsibility to protect our country.
  I would like to highlight several of these programs and their 
importance to our national security.
  This Homeland Security bill strengthens port facilities and 
infrastructures that remain vulnerable to a terrorist attack by 
increasing badly needed funding for port security grants.
  This is important, for example, because an attack on our Nation's 
largest container port complex at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long 
Beach would negatively affect our entire national economy to the tune 
of $1 billion a day.
  Passage of this bill will also make available to our first responders 
increased Firefighter Assistance Grants and Safer Grants to purchase 
critical equipment and hire and train additional firefighters.
  This will help address the outstanding issues that impair our first 
responders' ability to safely respond to a major disaster, as was 
identified by the events of September 11 and Hurricane Katrina.
  The Homeland Security bill also makes border security a top priority 
by providing funds for 3,000 additional Border Patrol agents.
  Finally, following the 9/11 Commission's recommendation to improve 
the explosive screening of checked baggage, this Homeland Security bill 
increases funding for the procurement, installation and maintenance of 
the latest explosive detection systems at our airports.
  Experts agree that the cargo hold of the passenger airplanes is the 
``soft underbelly'' of our aviation system.
  Providing this equipment for our airports will help harden that 
potential target, which is critical to the safety of thousands of 
passengers who travel not only through the Los Angeles World Airports, 
but airports throughout our country.
  Mr. Chairman, these are a just a few of the key improvements this 
legislation makes to better protect our Nation. I strongly support the 
bill and urge my colleagues to do the same.

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