[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 4 (Monday, January 27, 2003)]
[Pages 100-101]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Senate Confirmation of Tom Ridge as Secretary of Homeland 
Security

January 22, 2003

    I applaud the Senate for acting quickly and in a strong, bipartisan 
manner to confirm the

[[Page 101]]

first Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. With today's 
historic vote, the Senate has demonstrated our shared commitment to 
doing everything we can to secure our homeland. Secretary Ridge is an 
outstanding and dedicated public servant who understands my 
administration's top priority always will be the protection of the 
American people, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with 
him to fulfill this important responsibility.