[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 18-19]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HOMELAND SECURITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Issa). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, several years ago, I became aware of the 
threat that terrorism posed to American security and began to learn 
more about our

[[Page 19]]

Nation's preparedness. In the aftermath of September 11 last year, I 
gain not even the smallest amount of pleasure by saying ``I told you 
so.''
  In late 1996, after several attacks on U.S. citizens and military 
personnel, I called government investigators into my office to request 
a study on America's ability to defend against terrorists. This was the 
start of what became a 5-year, 15-report series assessing our Nation's 
ability to combat terrorism. The first report by the General Accounting 
Office, or GAO, examined the Defense Department's ability to protect 
U.S. forces overseas and concluded that uniform security standards were 
needed to assure the safety of Americans around the world. Imagine my 
disappointment when a follow-up study dated this past July stated 
considerable risk remained and significant security and procedural 
problems persist.
  In other reports issued during this period, GAO further cited 
additional shortcomings in our Nation's ability to combat terrorism. It 
called for better coordination and management, for better planning and 
training, for an increase in the number of real-world exercises, and 
for elimination of duplicative programs. GAO also repeatedly called for 
the implementation of a comprehensive threat-and-risk-assessment 
process to better quantify the danger. Finally, and above all, it 
called for the President to design and implement a comprehensive 
national strategy to combat terrorism at home and abroad.
  In response to these recommendations, I drafted legislative language 
to begin the regular disclosure of overall spending levels on combating 
terrorism programs. In March of last year, I introduced the Homeland 
Security Strategy Act of 2001 to address many of these concerns and 
warn of an impending threat. What I said then is still true today: we 
have no well-publicized, widely understood, comprehensive, government-
wide strategy concerning the role of the United States Government in 
homeland security crisis and consequence management.
  On a positive note, the President did take up my recommendation to 
designate a single person to be responsible for and to report on 
homeland security. A few other positive developments have occurred in 
recent months too. For example, Congress passed and the President has 
signed the USA PATRIOT Act to enhance the government's ability to 
collect intelligence about potential terrorist activities. Regrettably, 
these steps were taken only after the loss of life on September 11.
  Meanwhile, our sons and daughters in uniform have achieved 
unprecedented success abroad in this struggle against terrorism. 
Through their sacrifice and selfless service we have destroyed al 
Qaeda's grip on Afghanistan, driven the Taliban from power, and 
disrupted al Qaeda's global operations.
  Despite the existence of a most challenging foe, we have achieved 
success while putting less than 3,000 military personnel on the ground 
and in harm's way. We have achieved success by utilizing special 
tactics and sophisticated technology. B-2 bombers, for example, flying 
from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri have placed precision ordnance 
on target with pinpoint accuracy. Army Special Forces personnel have 
often guided carrier- launched F-14 and F-18 strike aircraft on bombing 
runs. And Marines have worked alongside Army personnel in an 
unparalleled manner, supporting one another while clearing caves and 
bunkers throughout the mountain areas of the Afghan countryside. We 
have every reason to be proud of these accomplishments.
  Yet, success notwithstanding, much still needs to be done. For 
starters, Osama bin Laden, Mullah Muhammed Omar, and other Taliban 
leaders and their associates remain at large and may be on one of any 
of the continents of the globe.
  Nevertheless, to completely realize a successful fight against 
terrorism at home and abroad, several important and necessary 
improvements must be pursued. First, we must upgrade our intelligence, 
law enforcement, first responder, and military capabilities to 
effectively match the present and future threat.
  Second, we must reorganize and coordinate our approach to homeland 
security at the Federal, State and local levels.
  Third, we must improve the coordination of our law enforcement, 
intelligence, diplomatic, and military efforts.
  The attacks of September 11 could have been avoided. Yet as I look 
toward the days ahead, I gain both strength and a sense of optimism in 
recalling the words of Thomas Paine, who wrote: ``Those who expect to 
reap the blessings of liberty must undergo the fatigues of supporting 
it.'' Over time, we have shouldered the burden and met the challenges 
of our calling. We have done this because we had to; and with patience, 
persistence and faith, I am confident we will continue on this path. 
Our best days still lie ahead.

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