[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7704]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  ON THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DHS SAFE ACT TO ENHANCE THE SECURITY OF 
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BADGES, IDENTIFICATION CARDS, UNIFORMS, 
                        AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 26, 2007

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, today I have introduced, together with 
my colleagues from the Committee on Homeland Security, Chairman 
Thompson of Mississippi and Mr. Rogers of Alabama, legislation that 
will prevent terrorists or others with bad intent from posing as 
Homeland Security officials or officers. This common sense bill will 
require the Department of Homeland Security to make sure that sensitive 
material--badges, identification cards, uniforms, and protective gear--
is made in the United States. As these items would be vulnerable to 
theft in transit, it just makes sense to make sure they start and stay 
in America.
  When the Department of Homeland Security buys identification cards 
overseas, there is no system in place to ensure that they are not 
stolen and misappropriated by terrorists, who could then pass into 
restricted areas with fraudulent credentials. In countries with less 
robust ethical and management standards for business, manufacturers 
might even be willing to sell uniforms or badges to the highest bidder. 
The men and women who serve in positions that protect our security are 
put at risk by a policy that does not secure these materials, and the 
practice of purchasing them overseas without appropriate safeguards 
must end.
  It is certainly not uncommon for cargo to be hijacked or lost, 
particularly in the staging areas at our Nation's ports of entry. The 
potential theft of uniforms, badges, or ID cards by the truckload pose 
a clear threat. These items are meant to serve as validation that those 
charged with securing our country are who they say they are; 
misappropriation is unacceptable.
  This legislation will not slow down the Department at all with regard 
to purchases; it merely ensures that sensitive materials are kept 
securely inside the United States when appropriate. The bill contains a 
waiver for small purchases and for material that will be used outside 
of the United States. It gives the Department the flexibility to 
procure materials outside of the United States if necessary and as long 
as steps are taken to prevent misappropriation.
  This legislation is focused and targeted at the area of greatest risk 
in procurement. I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
support it.

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