[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 492]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       BETTER SECURING OUR NATION BY PASSING THE 9/11 COMMISSION 
                            RECOMMENDATIONS

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, securing the safety of the American people 
is our number one priority as elected officials. To do this we must 
look at all facets of homeland security and take all necessary 
precautions seriously. Democrats have pledged to address the matter of 
homeland security comprehensively by implementing the recommendations 
of the independent, bipartisan 9/11 Commission. Of their 41 
recommendations made over 2 years ago, many have been only partially 
implemented and others have not been implemented at all.
  Because of this delay in addressing the Commission's recommendations, 
we still have major holes in our homeland security system. More than 5 
years after 9/11, only 5 percent of containers entering U.S. ports are 
screened. In addition, most air cargo is not screened at all, and our 
first responders are still unable to communicate with each other during 
an emergency.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress can no longer ignore the recommendations of the 
9/11 Commission. This week we will have an opportunity to better secure 
our Nation by beginning the process of approving these recommendations.

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