[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 101 (Wednesday, June 18, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN SUPPORT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BILLS

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                       HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 18, 2008

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise to express my strong support 
for these six bills brought forth by the Committee on Homeland 
Security. I would like to commend Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member 
King for their continued efforts and leadership on presenting 
legislation to enhance and strengthen our Nation's security. I would 
also like to congratulate my colleagues on the committee who authored 
these bills--Chairman Thompson, Congresswoman Clarke, Congresswoman 
Lowey, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, Congressman Dent and 
Congressman Langevin.
  The enactment of H.R. 1, The Implementing 9/11 Commission 
Recommendations Act, was a major milestone for this Congress and I was 
proud to be a conferee to H.R. 1. With the passage of H.R. 1, Congress 
took the lead in making America more secure. H.R. 1 was a comprehensive 
measure to enhance our Nation's homeland security capabilities in 
profound ways.
  The Homeland Security Committee has conducted numerous hearings to 
investigate the many areas covered by H.R. 1 and has worked diligently 
at developing legislation that focuses on specific areas of homeland 
security that require fine tuning in order to make H.R. 1 as effective 
as possible.
  The bills being considered today will do everything from providing 
redress to Americans misidentified against the terror watch lists to 
enhancing DHS' capability to address the threat of improvised-explosive 
devices to ensuring the integrity of aviation security covert tests.
  H.R. 4179, the Fast Redress Act of 2008, would enhance information 
sharing at DHS and between DHS and other Federal agencies that use the 
terrorist watch list or database. The bill also includes measures that 
would make the redress process more efficient and protect the civil 
rights of individuals on TSA's ``Cleared List'' and ``No Fly'' or 
``Selectee'' lists.
  H.R. 5909 is vitally important given the Committee's knowledge of at 
least three incidents that compromised the integrity of covert tests at 
TSA's screening checkpoints. It provides for security measures that 
would prevent disclosures that will jeopardize covert testing. H.R. 
5982 will also enhance airport security by requiring information 
sharing on best practices for using biometrics to improve airport 
security. H. Res. 1150 recognizes the continued importance of rail 
security and ensuring that it is given equal importance in our national 
transportation security plans.
  Bombing prevention is an integral part of our national security and 
requires that we provide the necessary resources for this purpose. H.R. 
4749 does this by increasing funding and the capabilities of the Office 
of Bombing Prevention. Along similar lines, The Nuclear Forensics 
Attribution Act authorizes programs within DHS to develop an 
international framework to identify and intercept nuclear materials 
further reducing the possibilities of nuclear threat worldwide.
  Lastly, I support H.R. 1333 which calls for both GAO and the DHS 
Secretary to examine and prepare a report on how the Civil Air Patrol 
can be integrated in our efforts to enhance national security and our 
war against terrorism. This is a positive effort in using local 
resources in supporting our homeland security mission.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support these bipartisan bills that 
have been thoughtfully crafted to enhance national security measures 
that are important to the implementation of the 9/11 Commission Act of 
2007.

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