[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16163-16164]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

  Mrs. CARNAHAN. Mr. President, the attacks of September 11 changed us 
as individuals and as a nation. They changed the way we think about our 
personal security, and they challenged our assumptions about the 
threats posed by groups and organizations hostile to our values and our 
way of life.
  The events of the past year have also bolstered our resolve. We have 
come a long way since that terrible day, but much more needs to be 
done. We have toppled the Taliban and severely disrupted the al-Qaida 
network, but our military is still working around the clock to destroy 
al-Qaida elements around the world.
  We have dramatically improved security at our airports, but we have 
much to do to protect our aviation system,

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our ports, and our borders. We have spent billions to recover from the 
attacks, but unfortunately we must spend more to protect our homeland 
from threats ranging from bioterrorism to dirty bombs.
  Today, we are focused on reorganizing our Federal Government to meet 
these new security challenges. I believe creating a new Federal 
Department of Homeland Security is the right thing to do. We need one 
agency whose exclusive focus is controlling our borders and protecting 
our homeland. That is why I support the bill before the Senate.
  I commend Senator Lieberman for the leadership and tenacity he has 
shown in getting us to this point. We began hearings last year on this 
proposal, and now we have brought the Senate a well-designed, 
comprehensive bill, approved on a bipartisan basis by the Governmental 
Affairs Committee. I was proud to vote for that bill.
  I also commend President Bush for his decision to support the 
creation of a Homeland Security Department.
  I believe now is the time for Congress and the President to work 
together to create a strong, effective, and well-equipped department--a 
robust department. The American people rightly demand that the first 
duty of the Federal Government is to provide security. So we need to 
make sure we give the new Department the structure and the tools it 
needs to do the job.
  The committee-approved homeland security bill creates an agency that 
will improve coordination, cooperation, and communication among all the 
Government organizations that will work at this new effort. It will 
bring together information and expertise from Federal, State, and local 
government and the private sector. Such efforts are key to preventing 
and containing further attacks.
  Our States are on the front line of this battle. Missouri recognized 
this and was the first State to hire a homeland security director. In 
recognition of the strong bonds needed between Federal, State, and 
local government, the committee bill includes an office of State and 
local government Coordination. This office will assure that the Federal 
Government reaches out to the State and local levels with training, 
tools, and a coordinated strategy.
  It will take more than this bill to prepare communities to respond to 
an attack, however. There must be the resources to do the job. I am 
already concerned because Federal funding for homeland security still 
has not made its way to the local level in Missouri. In the aftermath 
of 9/11, the staffing needs of many fire departments have increased 
dramatically across our Nation. Two-thirds of all fire departments, 
large and small, operate with inadequate staff. The International 
Association of Fire Chiefs estimates that 75,000 additional 
firefighters are needed to meet minimal acceptable levels for safety 
and effective response.
  I offered an amendment with Senator Collins that will begin to 
address this. It will establish a program to enable local fire 
departments in Missouri and across the country to hire 10,000 new 
firefighters. I am pleased the amendment passed unanimously in 
committee. This amendment is an effort to strengthen the ranks of those 
who protect us and did so on September 11, and who risk their lives 
daily to keep our communities safe.
  I urge my colleagues to support this provision when the Senate bill 
is conferenced with the House bill. We not only need to make sure our 
first responders have sufficient resources, but we will need to make 
sure they have adequate training. I sponsored an amendment in committee 
that requires the new Department to coordinate with the Secretary of 
Defense for training on how to respond to chemical and biological 
attacks. This is a logical step because the Defense Department is the 
primary Government agency supporting the training of military and 
nonmilitary personnel to respond to chemical and biological attacks.
  Just last January, the Coast Guard sent 30 national strike force 
members to the Army's chemical school in Fort Leonard Wood, MO. They 
learned how to spot nerve agents, scan people for radiation, and 
respond in other ways to terrorist attacks. From their DOD schooling, 
some went straight to the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City for duty.
  My amendment, which the committee also accepted unanimously, makes 
sure that the new Department of Homeland Security has access to the 
Defense Department's expertise.
  We will consider a number of amendments in the coming days and 
hopefully have a thorough debate. But let's not lose sight of the fact 
we have a very solid proposal before the Senate. It implements the 
President's call for the creation of a strong, robust Department of 
Homeland Security. It does so in a careful and constructive way. In the 
end, it will preserve, protect, and defend the United States of 
America.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.

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