[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 126 (Thursday, August 2, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S10778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             LIFTING HOLD ON NOMINATION OF DENNIS SCHRADER

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, on June 18, I announced my intention to 
object to any unanimous consent request for the Senate to take up the 
nomination of Dennis Schrader to be Deputy Administrator for National 
Preparedness in the Department of Homeland Security. I did so because, 
prior to his confirmation as Secretary of the Department of Homeland 
Security, Michael Chertoff told me in my office that if confirmed, he 
would move expeditiously to implement the National Emergency Technology 
Guard--NET Guard program. Unfortunately, Secretary Chertoff had failed 
to honor that pledge.
  Today, I received a letter from Secretary Chertoff describing how the 
Department is moving forward with 12-month NET Guard pilots beginning 
in September 2007, and how the DHS will be requesting funds to continue 
the program in its 2009 budget request to the Office of Management and 
Budget.
  The Secretary also communicated to me that the Department of Homeland 
Security will be publicizing NET Guard and seeking involvement from the 
private sector, a step critical to the success of this vital program.
  The Department has also set aside funds to run the pilots for the 
year and convened a working group of subject matter experts to guide 
the design of NET Guard. These activities and Secretary Chertoff's 
letter indicate that he is making a good-faith effort to get NET Guard 
off the ground.
  In light of these actions, I will no longer object to any unanimous-
consent request for the Senate to take up Mr. Schrader's nomination. I 
will, however, continue to closely monitor DHS's actions on NET Guard.
  I ask unanimous consent that a copy of Secretary Chertoff's letter be 
printed in the Congressional Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                              Department of Homeland Security,

                                   Washington, DC, August 1, 2007.
     Hon. Ron Wyden,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Wyden: Thank you for taking time this morning 
     to discuss the Department of Homeland Security's plans for 
     the National Emergency Technology Guard (NET Guard) program. 
     Following my June 29, 2007 letter to you that outlined our 
     program approach, and as a prelude to our discussion, members 
     of the Department's NET Guard team briefed your staff on our 
     proposed plan. The positive feedback from your staff, coupled 
     with your positive feedback this morning and the positive 
     feedback that we have received from State, local, and private 
     sector stakeholders, gives us confidence that we are taking 
     the right approach to implementing this important disaster 
     response program.
       Accordingly, the Department is moving forward with plans to 
     implement 12-month NET Guard pilots beginning in September 
     2007. The recommendation to establish pilots in September is 
     consistent with the NET Guard Scoping Initiative Report, 
     which I will provide to you upon its completion this month. 
     To fund our efforts in fiscal years 2007 and 2008, we will 
     continue to work with Congressional appropriators. I will 
     also submit a request to the White House Office of Management 
     and Budget to fund the NET Guard program in fiscal year 2009. 
     On these and other program matters, the Department's Office 
     of Legislative Affairs will keep your staff apprised of our 
     progress.
       I appreciate your interest and support of the Department's 
     disaster response mission and look forward to working with 
     you on this and other issues.
           Sincerely,
     Michael Chertoff.

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