Congressional Record, Volume 154 Issue 56 (Wednesday, April 9, 2008)

[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 9, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H2088-H2092]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

RECOGNIZING THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 1038) recognizing the fifth anniversary of the
Department of Homeland Security and honoring the Department's employees
for their extraordinary efforts and contributions to protect and secure
our Nation.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:

H. Res. 1038

Whereas, in the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001,
the Department of Homeland Security was created in an effort
to consolidate our Nation's efforts to prevent, prepare for,
respond to, and mitigate against threats to the homeland,
including acts of terrorism, natural disasters, or other
emergencies;
Whereas the Department of Homeland Security marked its
fifth year of full-scale operations on March 1, 2008;
Whereas the Department has strived to integrate 22
disparate agencies and offices, while at the same time has
been successful in helping prevent another terrorist attack
over this period;
Whereas the United States must continue to remain vigilant
against all such threats;
Whereas the employees of the Department of Homeland
Security have spent the past 5 years enhancing our Nation's
domestic preparedness and collective response to terrorism
and standing ready to assist State, local, and tribal
governments as they prepare for and prevent acts of terrorism
and respond to natural disasters and other emergencies;
Whereas the Department's employees work diligently to
deter, detect, and prevent acts of terrorism and stand
willing, ready, and able to respond in the event of a
terrorist incident or other major emergency;
Whereas the Department's employees have cooperated closely
with the private sector to enhance emergency preparedness
across the Nation;
Whereas the American people rely on the Department's
employees to protect our Nation's borders, airports,
seaports, rail lines, and other transit systems;
Whereas the continuing efforts of the Department's
employees will be crucial to the security of our Nation in
the years to come;
Whereas the Department's employees have sacrificed, and
will continue to sacrifice, time with their families and
working long hours to fulfill the Department's vital mission;
Whereas because the Nation depends on the Department's
employees to keep the American people safe from harm, they
deserve the best in training, testing, and equipment;
Whereas the Department's employees often do not receive the
recognition they deserve; and
Whereas the Nation is indebted to the Department's
employees for their sacrifices, efforts, and contributions:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the fifth anniversary of the Department of
Homeland Security; and
(2) honors the Department's dedicated public servants for
their extraordinary service to this Nation in helping
preserve the safety and security of the American people.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from

[[Page H2089]]

Pennsylvania (Mr. Carney) and the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs.
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

General Leave

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on this resolution.
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.
Mr. Speaker, we are here today to recognize the fifth anniversary of
the Department of Homeland Security. This is an opportunity for us to
praise the tireless employees who, day in and day out, are working hard
to prevent another terrorist attack on our soil, in our skies, and on
our waters, and to also ensure that we're prepared should a catastrophe
strike again.
Congress is often critical of DHS, and we have had some harsh
hearings in the Homeland Security Committee. But our criticism of the
management at DHS is only because we hope to ensure the department's
employees have the resources they need to do their jobs and to keep
America safe. The department is still in its formative years and still
experiencing expected growing pains.
When DHS was established, it was the largest reorganization of the
Federal Government since the creation of the Department of Defense 60
years ago, with 180,000 employees and 22 agencies that merged to form
one new department. That number has grown by nearly 30,000 since then.
Let's take a moment to honor DHS in its 5-year anniversary but also
to recognize these employees for their dedicated service.
To the Customs and Border Patrol officers and the Border Patrol
agents protecting our borders, at our ports of entry and in between;
and to our Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents ensuring that
criminal aliens are accounted for and removed; and to our
Transportation Security officers, protecting millions of passengers
daily and quickly adapting to threats to prevent future hijackings or
worse; and to our Federal Air Marshals, quietly protecting our skies;
and to our Secret Service, called upon earlier than ever to protect
presidential candidates; and to the men and women of the Coast Guard,
protecting 360 ports and over 90,000 miles of coastline, ready to
respond at a moment's notice; and to the first responders of FEMA, who
have again proven themselves in their response to the California
wildfires and the recent Midwest tornadoes.
Thank you. We know all too well the long hours you've committed to
our country and the time away from your homes and families. We
sincerely appreciate all of your work and your service.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I rise today to fully support this resolution, which speaks to this
Congress, appropriately recognizing and honoring the brave Americans,
the great patriots, who work to protect us all through their service at
the Department of Homeland Security.
And I believe that the first and foremost responsibility of the
Federal Government is to provide for the national defense. That is
actually in the preamble of our Constitution. Additionally, for all of
us who have the honor to serve in this House, protecting our homeland
and securing our borders against those who would harm us is something
that we all take an oath to do.
Before those horrific attacks on our Nation on 9/11, we thought about
national defense more in terms of having a strong military, the best
trained, the best resourced, facing down enemies overseas in conflicts
where we had a national interest in spots around the world. We didn't
usually think in terms of actually being attacked or continuing to be
threatened with attacks on American soil here in our homeland.

{time} 1145

9/11 changed all of our lives, as on that day cowardly terrorists
murdered nearly 3,000 of our fellow Americans, innocent people who were
just going about their daily lives. And the terrorists used the tools
of our own freedoms against us. And why? Because they hate us, and they
especially hate our freedoms.
They sought to weaken us, to destroy us, and instead they united us.
They awoke us, and instead, made us begin to take the necessary steps
to protect ourselves from future attacks.
We knew we had to change the way we practiced security measures at
our airports, on our railways, on our roadways, at our ports, and at
our border crossings. We knew we had to secure our infrastructure, that
we had to better prepare our first responders and local emergency
management agencies, that we had to share intelligence, that we had to
tear down silo mentalities and do a much better job of sharing
intelligence and resources.
And we also knew we had to create an agency here at the Federal level
and task them with implementing this seemingly impossible job. And so
the Department of Homeland Security was created 5 years ago, and what a
remarkable success story it has been.
The brave men and women of the 22 agencies, more than 213,000
individuals that make up the department, deserve our respect, and they
deserve our gratitude. We have not had another successful attack on our
shores since that day, in no small part due to the vigilance and the
hard work of the Department of Homeland Security and their efforts to
provide for our common defense against America's enemies, against the
enemies of freedom, those who are truly cowards, those who hide in the
shadows and who prey on the innocent.
Mr. Speaker, as Congress recognizes and pays tribute to the
Department of Homeland Security for the dedication and the commitment
they have made to our homeland security during the past 5 years that
they have been in existence, we also look forward to standing shoulder
to shoulder with them as we look towards the future.
We understand that we need to do more to clearly define the lines of
congressional committee jurisdiction, to streamline, to make more
effective and cost efficient many of the department's missions. We
recognize that the largest room is always the room for improvement, and
that the department is looking to Congress to continue to assist them
and not to hobble them.
Mr. Speaker, I am a new member of the Committee on Homeland Security,
and I am proud to represent my district in Michigan, a border State
with many unique dynamics, such as the first and second busiest
international border crossings on the northern tier and the busiest
rail entry in the country, the magnificent Great Lakes, fully one-fifth
of the freshwater supply of the entire planet, a long liquid border
that we share with our wonderful neighbors, the Canadians.
These are issues and items that require the attention of the
Department of Homeland Security, and yet, Mr. Speaker, every Member,
every Member of this House, could tell us of particular dynamics in
their district, or their State, or their region of the country that
also require the attention of the department.
Identifying and dealing with the threats to our homeland are done
each and every day, 24/7, by the remarkable men and women of the
Department of Homeland Security. And it is certainly appropriate that
we honor those who serve us so well, that we thank them for their
vigilance, we salute them for their dedication, we appreciate their
commitment to democracy and liberty and freedom.
I urge my colleagues to pass the resolution before us and formally
thank the great Americans who make up the Department of Homeland
Security for keeping our Nation safe.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my
time.
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, at this time, it is my great
honor to recognize for as much time as he may consume the distinguished
ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security, the gentleman
from New York (Mr. King).
Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady for
yielding.
I thank Chairman Carney for helping to bring this matter to the House
floor today, and I rise in strong support of H.

[[Page H2090]]

Res. 1038 because we do owe a tremendous debt of gratitude and thanks
to all of the employees of the Department of Homeland Security.
Mr. Speaker, you and I come from adjoining districts in New York.
Probably between our districts we lost well over 200 people on
September 11. And I think any of us on September 12 and September 13
anticipated there would have to be another successful attack on our
country in the not-too-distant future. Well, the fact is, we have now
gone 6\1/2\ years without an attack.
During 5 of those years, the Department of Homeland Security has been
up and operational. And it was really a tribute to the men and women
who comprise the formerly separate 22 agencies who came together to be
combined into this one department for what they have been able to do
and what they have been able to achieve. It is no accident, it is not
luck we haven't been attacked. It is for a number of reasons, but among
the very prime reasons is the tremendous effort by all these men and
women. And doing that was not easy because they each came from
different cultures and traditions. They had different types of training
and a different type of emphasis. They had a tough enough job before
September 11. But now added to that was the new dimension of homeland
security. And they had to do what they were doing at a different level,
and they combined their efforts with employees from other agencies who
were trained differently, who had a different way of looking at things,
and they had to learn to speak and think as one. And they have done it.
They have done a terrific job.
I believe it was last year we held hearings on how far the department
has come. And yes, it is easy to be a critic. It is easy to stand back
and say this should be done better and that should be done better. But
the consensus of the testimony we had from experts was that the
Department of Homeland Security is further along in its progress than
the Defense Department was after a comparable period of time after it
was formed over 60 years ago. So it is important to keep that in mind,
and also to keep in mind that their work is a 24/7 job, that at any
given time, there are active threats against the United States or
active plots against the United States, and there is no simple easy way
to stop it. And there are many ways. We have to fight it overseas. We
have to fight it at the national level making sure that all
intelligence is coordinated. But no one is more central to that than
the Department of Homeland Security because they have to coordinate the
national and international intelligence and then also make sure it gets
down to the local levels, to make sure that the local police, the State
police and the local law enforcements throughout the country are
apprised of what could be happening, what might be happening, and also
to absorb information that is sent back up from the local governments
to the Department of Homeland Security.
So I commend them. I think it is too easy to take shots. And we see
it in Presidential debates, we see people who take random shots at the
people in this department, and it is so unfair because they are
literally on the firing lines for us. They are on the front lines for
us. In many ways, they are doing it anonymously because obviously their
successes cannot be recorded. They are not publicized. How do you prove
an attack didn't happen that was actually going to happen and didn't?
And those that we do know about often can't be spoken about. But they
are there. They are doing it. And in addition to that, they have the
added responsibility from Congress because of the events of September
11 and having to do much more as far as border security and illegal
immigration is concerned. So there is just a myriad of responsibilities
that have been thrust upon them in addition to all they have been doing
before, and they are doing it first class.
It is important for us in the Congress to live up to that same level,
that same standard, that these employees are setting. It's important
for us to get our act coordinated in the Congress, to make sure that
jurisdiction is consolidated as much as possible so that we can speak
with one voice, not to take partisan advantage, not to be allowing
jurisdictional disputes between and among committees to impede the job
that we should be doing. We can take a lesson from those employees out
there who have put aside their prerogatives, put aside their own petty
interests for the common good.
So I commend all the employees of the Department of Homeland Security
on the fifth anniversary. Thanks for keeping us safe. Thanks for doing
what you are doing. And I believe we can speak for all Members of this
House that we will continue to do what we have to do to make sure that
you get the tools to do your job and also get the support that you so
richly deserve from all of us, and most important, from your fellow
Americans whom you have done so much to protect.
I urge the adoption of the resolution.
Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers.
If the gentlewoman from Michigan has no more, and she is ready to
close, I will close after she does.
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Yes, I have no further speakers at this
time, Mr. Speaker. And so I would certainly urge my colleagues to pass
the resolution before us and honor the brave men and women of the
Department of Homeland Security, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might
consume.
I would like to talk about what the department does for a few
moments. It is imperative that we honor and recognize the fact that the
Department of Homeland Security and all its components provides the
awareness for our Nation to prevent threats and identify our
vulnerabilities. It prevents threats through detection and deterrence,
and it mitigates those accidents and those attacks that might happen.
It protects people and/or critical infrastructure and, of course, the
economy. It responds to terrorism. It responds to natural disasters and
certainly any other emergencies. It provides us the opportunity and the
ability to recover from terrorism and from natural disasters. And it
serves the public by facilitating lawful trade, lawful travel and
lawful immigration.
It is committed to organizational excellence, and through that
organizational excellence, we are all protected.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker I rise today to support H. Res.
1038, ``Recognizing the 5th Anniversary of the Department of Homeland
Security and honoring the Department's Employees for their
Extraordinary Efforts to Protect and Secure our Nation.
On September 11, 2001 this nation suffered a terrorist attack that
surpassed anything we had dealt with before. After witnessing those
events, I decided that the protection of our homeland would be at the
forefront of my legislative agenda. I knew that all of our collective
efforts as Americans would all be in vain if we did not achieve our
most important priority: the security of our Nation.
After the events of September 11th, the Department of Homeland
Security was created in an effort to consolidate our Nation's efforts
to prevent, respond to, and mitigate threats to the homeland, including
acts of terrorism, natural disasters, or other emergencies.
Since its first full scale year in 2003, the Department of Homeland
Security has integrated 22 disparate agencies and offices. Due to the
Homeland Security's employees' diligence, the department has done a
magnificent job of deterring, detecting, and preventing acts of
terrorism from occurring on U.S. soil.
Over 331 pieces of legislation related to Homeland Security have been
introduced since the Department's inception. From the health-related
issues surrounding clean up of Ground Zero to Customs and Border
Protection, the Department covers several facets affecting our national
security.
Working for the Department of Homeland Security is more than a job.
It would be like saying that we as Members of Congress simply have a
job. Homeland Security is a belief in the greatness of this nation and
the desire to protect it no matter where the enemy comes from, no
matter how large or small the attack.
I thank the employees for the work they do and their belief in the
need for protecting our Nation's borders, airports, seaports, rail
lines, transit systems, and most importantly our way of life.
That is why I have introduced legislation such as H.R. 750 [110th]
the Save America Comprehensive Immigration Act of 2007, which seeks to
amend the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to provide increased
protections and eligibility for family-sponsored immigrants. It would
authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to deny a family-based
immigration petition by a U.S. petitioner for an alien spouse or child
if: (1) the petitioner is on

[[Page H2091]]

the national sex offender registry for a conviction that resulted in
more than one year's imprisonment; (2) the petitioner has failed to
rebut such information within 90 days; and (3) granting the petition
would put a spouse or child beneficiary in danger of sexual abuse.
Among other things it would direct the Secretary to establish the Task
Force to Rescue Immigrant Victims of American Sex Offenders.
I also introduced H.R. 1530, the Chemical Facility Security
Improvement Act of 2007 to prohibit federal funds from being used by
the Secretary of Homeland Security to approve a site security plan for
a chemical facility unless the facility meets or exceeds security
standards and requirements to protect it against terrorist acts
established by the State or local government for the area where it is
located.
Because while I support and commend the Department of Homeland
Security, I still believe that the Department's mission and goals are
still malleable. We need to continue to improve the Department's
comprehensive national strategies to ensure that the more than 87,000
different governmental jurisdictions at the Federal, State, and local
level are protecting our nation's borders, transit systems, people, and
ideals.
This work could not be done however, without the more than 208,000
employees of the Department working 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 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.
I urge my colleagues to support the achievements of the Department of
Homeland Security, and support this resolution honoring the 5th
anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security and its
extraordinary employees.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, It is my pleasure to be
here today to honor the employees of the Department of Homeland
Security. As we mark the Department's fifth anniversary, we must keep
in mind that it is the people of the Department who make the sacrifices
to keep us all safe.
Five years ago, this new Department was created and charged with the
crucial mission of protecting and securing our homeland. This was not
an easy task in the wake of the September 11th attacks. Hurricane
Katrina demonstrated that this was a broader mission than the
Department's leadership initially thought. However, despite the
challenges before them, the employees of the Department have remained
focused on ensuring the security of all Americans.
We talk about the activities of TSA or FEMA or CBP. What sometimes
gets lost in the discussion are the individuals behind the acronyms.
The people of DHS deserve our praise and our gratitude. They include
the Customs and Border Protection Officers who man our ports-of-entry;
the Federal Air Marshals who, everyday, sit through the same flight
delays that so frustrate the American public to do their part to keep
the flying public secure; FEMA teams who trek selflessly into disaster
zones to help those in need; and support personnel such as contracting
officers, administrative assistants, technical support teams without
whom the folks on the front lines could not do their jobs.
I could go on, but my time is limited and I think my point is clear.
All the men and women of the Department deserve to be recognized for 5
years of hard work. They work nights, weekends, and holidays. They put
their life on the line to secure our country from all manner of
threats. Today, we are here to extend a hard-earned and much deserved
``Thank You.''
As Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, it is an honor for
me to stand here today in support of this resolution. I have, at times,
been critical of the Department's management. But I want to be very
clear: my criticism of the Department's management should in no way be
construed as a lack of appreciation for the individuals who are making
daily sacrifices to secure our Nation.
I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring these ``everyday
heroes.''
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House
Resolution 1038, which recognizes and honors the employees of the
Department of Homeland Security for their contributions in protecting
our Nation from terrorist attacks.
We commend today the more than 200,000 employees of the Department
that have dedicated themselves to the ongoing effort to secure our
Nation.
In January 2003, the Department of Homeland Security officially was
established, and in March 2003, 22 Federal agencies were brought
together and the Department became operational. The Department has come
a long way these five years.
With great interest, our Subcommittee on Management, Investigations,
and Oversight has watched and encouraged the Department's progress in
managing its components, organizing its people, and executing the
critical mission of protecting the Nation.
I am especially pleased with the 21 percent staffing increase that
Customs and Border Protection achieved in just one year. I have every
confidence these agents are working tirelessly to help improve the
security of our borders every single day.
Similarly, the hard-working people at the Transportation Security
Administration have implemented a wide range of improvements at our
Nation's airports. T-S-A is now training its own employees to be
explosives detection canine handlers, which will allow for a
considerable surge in detection in the event of a threat to any
transportation system.
I am also proud that two key DHS facilities are located in my
hometown of Anniston, Alabama. The Center for Domestic Preparedness
provides live chemical agent training to first responders, and the
Noble Training Center provides training for hospital and healthcare
professionals to prepare for and respond to disasters.
The people who serve at the CDP and Noble Training Center provide an
invaluable service to our Nation and deserve our thanks.
Yet as we look back over five years of growth and accomplishment, we
must also look forward to next year's transition and beyond.
Consolidation of congressional oversight authority is still sorely
needed, and remains the sole recommendation of the 9/11 Commission yet
to be enacted. The lack of consolidated Congressional oversight
jurisdiction over the Department has a direct negative impact on the
Department's ability to fulfill its mission of securing the homeland.
Congress must address this issue immediately.
In addition, the Congress needs to establish an annual DHS
authorization bill to provide the steady-handed guidance that 86
different committees and subcommittees cannot. This Committee, followed
by the House and our colleagues in the Senate, must produce an
authorization bill in advance of any appropriations bill this year.
And finally, we must allow the Department's employees to work
unimpeded by further organizational shuffling.
These and many more challenges lie in front of us. It is our job to
ensure that the Department is ready for the future, especially as it
prepares to transition to a new administration.
We therefore gladly extend our thanks to the many dedicated
individuals that make up the backbone of our Nation's current and
future security.
I urge my colleagues to support passage of this resolution.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in overwhelming support
of H. Res. 1038, recognizing the fifth anniversary of the Department of
Homeland Security and honoring the Department's employees for their
extraordinary efforts and contributions to protect and secure our
country.
As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I am proud
to work side-by-side with DHS on keeping our Nation secure. We have
come a long way and it is hard to believe that so much has been
accomplished in 5 years. For certain, consolidating 22 different
agencies has been extremely challenging as it is the first act of its
kind. The Department now employs more than 200,000 workers in its
efforts to keep the Nation secure. Although there are many issues to
still be resolved, and there always will be, I commend Secretary
Chertoff and the DHS employees for their success in preventing another
terrorist attack, thus far, and intercepting terrorists plots.
My colleagues and I remain committed to working on ensuring that the
agency has the support and resources it needs to continue to get the
job done. One of our top priorities and concerns has always been staff
morale. We believe that the employees are the backbone of the agency
and that the agency is a reflection of its employees' approach and
outlook toward their job. Their continuing efforts are crucial to the
security of our Nation in the years to come.
I would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to Secretary
Chertoff and the employees of DHS, especially those in the U.S. Virgin
Islands, for their outstanding service.

General Leave

Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
of this resolution and include any extraneous material.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.

[[Page H2092]]

Mr. CARNEY. I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
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. 1038.
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 motion will be
postponed.

____________________