[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 4, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H2936-H2938]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT ON ITS SIXTH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 195) recognizing and honoring the employees of the 
Department of Homeland Security on its sixth anniversary for their 
continuous efforts to keep the Nation safe.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 195

       Whereas the Department of Homeland Security was created as 
     a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, to 
     consolidate our Nation's efforts to prevent, prepare for, 
     protect against, respond to, and mitigate against threats to 
     the homeland, including acts of terrorism, natural disasters, 
     and other emergencies;
       Whereas the Department of Homeland Security marks its sixth 
     year of full-scale operations on March 1, 2009;
       Whereas more than 223,000 employees of the Department of 
     Homeland Security work diligently to deter, detect, and 
     prevent acts of terrorism and stand ready to respond to a 
     terrorist attack, natural disaster, or other emergency;
       Whereas the employees of the Department of Homeland 
     Security are dedicated individuals who rarely receive the 
     recognition they deserve;
       Whereas the employees of the Department of Homeland 
     Security work tirelessly to protect our Nation, frequently 
     working long hours and sacrificing time with their loved 
     ones;
       Whereas the employees of the Department of Homeland 
     Security support the Department's mission to secure the 
     borders, protect critical infrastructure, share information, 
     facilitate safe and lawful travel and trade, and work with 
     States and localities to enhance preparedness;
       Whereas the employees of the Department of Homeland 
     Security deserve the best in training and resources to 
     accomplish their vital mission;
       Whereas the United States has not been attacked since 
     September 11, 2001, and this is due in large part to the 
     dedicated service of the employees of the Department of 
     Homeland Security; and
       Whereas the Nation owes a debt of gratitude to the 
     employees of the Department of Homeland Security for their 
     continued and steadfast efforts to secure the homeland: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes and 
     honors the employees of the Department of Homeland Security 
     on its sixth anniversary for their continuous efforts to keep 
     the Nation safe.

  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.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  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, I rise today to support House Resolution 195, a measure 
to honor the employees of the Department of Homeland Security and to 
mark the sixth anniversary of the Department's creation.
  The Department of Homeland Security was tasked with the Herculean 
responsibility of coordinating with State, local, and tribal entities 
to prevent future terrorist attacks, secure our borders, and to prepare 
for and respond to events of national significance. Comprised of 22 
different Federal agencies

[[Page H2937]]

and employing over 223,000 of our finest Federal employees, DHS quickly 
became one of the largest Federal departments.
  Twenty-four hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, employees of 
the Department of Homeland Security are working to prevent and prepare 
for any threat to our country. At this very moment they are patrolling 
our skies, securing our borders, sailing our coastal waters, and 
screening people and cargo entering our country. They are also 
collaborating, cooperating, and coordinating with State, local, and 
tribal 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. These dedicated Homeland Security employees 
are working tirelessly to improve the safety for all Americans and are 
doing a commendable job.
  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 Congress will continue to conduct vigorous oversight 
of management at DHS, but I cannot stress how much we truly appreciate 
the work of the dedicated DHS employees working to protect the safety 
of all Americans.
  My thanks to Congressman Bilirakis for introducing the resolution and 
to the Speaker for the time on the floor today. I encourage my 
colleagues to support House Resolution 195 as we honor 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.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the men and women of the 
Department of Homeland Security who work diligently to secure our 
Nation.
  I'm proud to introduce this resolution with Congressman Chris Carney, 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and 
Oversight, on which I serve as ranking member.
  Chairman Carney, I look forward to working with you this Congress, 
and I think our subcommittee is getting off to a great start by having 
this resolution on the floor today.
  I also want to thank Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member King, and the 
other members of the Committee on Homeland Security who joined as 
cosponsors of my resolution.
  My district is home to many of the department's employees, including 
Transportation Security officers, Customs and Border Protection 
officers, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and Coast 
Guardsmen. I thank them for the work they do day in and day out to 
ensure that Florida, and our Nation, is secure.
  These employees often do not receive the recognition they deserve. 
The fact that our Nation has not been attacked since September 11, 
2001, is due to their tireless efforts. They work long hours, often 
sacrificing time with their loved ones, to get the job done.
  In 2006 the Department of Homeland Security ranked nearly last in the 
Office of Personnel Management's Federal Human Capital Survey, showing 
overwhelming employee dissatisfaction and low morale. Since that time 
the department, under former Secretary Chertoff's leadership, has 
worked to address these issues, and I'm pleased to report their efforts 
are paying off.
  The Office of Personnel Management recently released the results of 
the 2008 Federal Human Capital Survey, and the department showed 
improvement in nearly every category of the survey, ranking in the top 
five of most improvement among Federal agencies. The largest increase 
came in the job satisfaction indices, evidencing a much-needed increase 
in employee morale.
  This is great news, but more work needs to be done, Mr. Speaker. The 
department will now use the results of this survey to further improve 
working conditions at the department and within its components. As the 
ranking member of the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and 
Oversight, I look forward to working with the department and Chairman 
Carney to address the concerns of the employees, improve morale, and 
foster a ``one DHS'' culture, so very important. The department's 
employees deserve nothing less, in my opinion.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in honoring the 
hardworking men and women of the Department of Homeland Security by 
supporting this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As you have heard, Mr. Bilirakis and I discussed the Department of 
Homeland Security and the importance of the employees and the 
incredible talents that they represent in protecting us 24/7/365. It's 
actually the most important job we have in this country right now. They 
are keeping the borders safe. They are making sure we are not attacked, 
and they have prevented the attacks since 9/11. That in combination 
with our support will make them the finest domestic force that we have.
  I encourage every Member of this body to vote for H. Res. 195.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
House Resolution 195.
  As Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, it is an honor for 
me to join Mr. Bilirakis in recognizing the employees of the Department 
of Homeland Security on the sixth anniversary of the Department's 
inception.
  Since its creation, the Department's mission has continued to grow 
and evolve. While the initial impetus for the Department's creation was 
the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11th, the Department has 
since grown into an agency that is charged with not only protecting us 
from terrorism, but also protecting us from dangerous goods, emerging 
threats, and coordinating response to catastrophic incidents.
  Despite a host of challenges and repeated internal reorganization, 
the Department's employees have worked tirelessly to ensure continued 
security for all Americans. Their dedication in the face of frequent 
internal adversity is to be commended.
  The Department's employee workforce represents hundreds of 
occupations, from scientists to emergency managers to border patrol 
agents to economists. And, although the make-up of the Department is 
diverse and employee responsibilities are plentiful, all of its 
employees are united in carrying out the Department's mission to 
protect the American people, reduce the risk of terrorist attacks, and 
enhance the Nation's preparedness and response capabilities.
  I pledge to them, that I will continue to work to ensure that 
employees have the necessary resources and training to do their jobs. 
These dedicated individuals should also be afforded with full 
protections and rights that are given to other employees in the federal 
government.
  As the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I have repeatedly 
challenged the Department's senior leaders to make the Department a 
top-notch agency. I believe that the Department's workforce cannot be 
taken for granted.
  With the change in leadership at DHS, there is a real opportunity to 
improve morale by investing in the men and women that help keep the 
nation secure. I look forward to working with Secretary Napolitano and 
the rest of the Department's leadership to make sure that they get the 
training, resources, and support that they need.
  I urge my colleagues to support the resolution and thank the men and 
women who make up the Department of Homeland Security for their 
constant vigilance and commitment.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you for an 
opportunity to speak on an important anniversary. As we honor the 
Department of Homeland Security we also take the time to salute the 
nearly 223,000 employees who make up the agencies staff. I recently had 
the pleasure of meeting the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland 
Security, Janet Napolitano and made sure to mention how proud I am of 
her staff.
  Congress created the Homeland Security Department as a result of the 
tragic events of September 11, consolidating the nation's efforts to 
prevent, prepare for, protect against, respond to, and mitigate threats 
to the homeland. On March 1, 2003, the Homeland Security Department 
united 22 agencies, and 2009 marks its sixth year of full-scale 
operations.
  As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Chair 
of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure I am well 
aware of the sacrifice and diligence of the more than 223,000 Homeland 
Security employees who work in the department. This resolution 
recognizes and honors the employees of the Homeland Security Department 
on its sixth anniversary for their continuous efforts to keep the 
nation safe.
  Our nation has remained safe since the terrorist attacks thanks to 
the hard work, fastidious attention to detail and dedication of the 
many employees of this Department.
  The day-to-day tedium that the professionals at the Department of 
Homeland Security only serve to underscore how vital they

[[Page H2938]]

are as a protective force. Mr. Speaker, they truly are on the 
frontlines, at our nation's busiest ports. They are the people who make 
sure that our children can walk home from that little red schoolhouse; 
they are the people who allow us to exercise our constitutional right 
to travel freely and associate with whom we like; they are the people 
who allow us to proclaim loudly that ``I have the right to free 
speech,'' to essentially be American.
  I would also be remiss if I did not take note of some of the tasks 
that the department faces this year onward. The Department of Homeland 
Security is an integral part of the plan to increase usage of safer and 
more efficient mass transit. We must utilize our federal dollars to 
improve our rail and over-the-road bus systems. We must work to ensure 
safe package by training workers to be the best they can and to 
continue to take pride in their work. These improvements must be 
modernized to be the best security and safety systems.
  The Transportation Worker Identification Credential or TWIC program 
must be updated to allow for seamless processing for our workers most 
of whom depend on their jobs to feed their families. Border and 
Maritime security is the absolute beginning of what it means to be a 
safe country.
  Transportation Security Administration or TSA workers must continue 
to be better trained because they are on the frontlines of our nation's 
airport security. These workers must also be afforded the opportunity 
to have collective bargaining rights if they chose and the ability to 
report fraud, corruption and wrongdoing. That is the essence of the 
whistleblower protections which we just voted to include in H.R. 1 that 
I fought for and will continue to press, and yes, even in a Democratic 
administration. Mr. Speaker, these are just a few of the laundry list 
of items that Secretary Napolitano and her staff will tackle in the 
coming months and years. I am confident though that they are up to the 
task of making the Department of Homeland Security an even better 
federal agency.
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to declare my support for the 
employees of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and to thank 
them for their important service to our country. I recognize that their 
tireless work and dedication often keep them from their families and 
loved ones. Accordingly I wish to thank them for the sacrifices they 
make in their service to our nation.
  However, I believe it is important to point out that more must be 
done to support all of the employees at DHS. In 2003 the former 
administration terminated the collective bargaining rights of TSA 
screeners just as TSA workers were ready to vote on joining the union 
of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). 
Transportation security workers deserve collective bargaining rights. 
It is an insult to these dedicated men and women within DHS, including 
FEMA and Border Patrol, that their rights to organize have been denied. 
Transportation Security Officers deserve the same collective bargaining 
rights enjoyed by other employees of the Federal workforce.
  I unequivocally appreciate the dedicated service of DHS employees. 
Their hard work and commitment to public service is outstanding and 
valuable.
  Mr. CARNEY. 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. 195.
  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. BILIRAKIS. 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.

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