[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 20060]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HOMELAND SECURITY

  (Ms. SCHWARTZ of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. SCHWARTZ of Pennsylvania. Every day, Americans work hard to 
fulfill their obligations to their families, to pay their mortgage, to 
send their children to college, to save for retirement. Americans 
understand these priorities. At all times, but particularly at a time 
of war, Americans expect their leaders to understand that our priority 
should be securing our homeland. Yet this administration and the 
Republican Congress have no such plan.
  The bipartisan 9/11 Commission noted, quote, ``a lack of urgency'' by 
this administration and the Republican Congress in addressing our 
homeland security vulnerabilities, and called their failures shocking.
  Democrats have a plan to lead our Nation in a new direction. 
Democrats will immediately implement the recommendations of the 9/11 
Commission. Democrats will secure our borders. Democrats will ensure 
that our police and firefighters can communicate with each other during 
times of crisis. And Democrats would never approve the sale of port 
security to a foreign nation. It is time for a new direction.
  Americans deserve to feel secure and to know that our government is 
working hard to ensure that safety and security every day. Democrats 
know that government's paramount responsibility is to defend our 
citizens. Democrats will keep our country safe.

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