Dateline: August 1, 2002

House okays plan for homeland security

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives last week approved The Homeland Security Act, a bill that will realign the federal government so we are better prepared to prevent and respond to a terrorist attack.

 The bill was approved by a vote of  295-132. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon), who has been pushing for the establishment of a Homeland Security Department since March 2001 and played a key role in today’s debate and the passage of the bill, called the vote historic and something that will help keep America “stronger and more secure in a rapidly changing world.”

 “We are fast approaching the one year anniversary of the terrorist attacks,” Thornberry stated. “The world has clearly changed a great deal in the past nine months. But what has also changed is our understanding of the world. The idle contentment of the past ten years has given way to the knowledge that evil still exists in the world, and that the forces of evil are actively looking for ways to do us harm.

 “Just as the world has changed, and as our understanding of the world has changed, so must our government also change, as well as our understanding of it and what we expect it to do. We have always expected the government to keep us safe. But keeping us safe used to mean sending troops overseas. It used to mean fighting the battles abroad. Now, the fight has been brought to us. The battle is being fought here at home. And we must be ready. 

 “Which is why the bill approved today is so important. It is designed to marshal our forces and resources along the homefront. It’s an historic piece of legislation that will help keep our country stronger and more secure in a rapidly changing world.”

 Under this legislation, several of the key federal agencies that currently have responsibility for homeland security will be merged into a new Homeland Security Department. The primary mission of this new department will be to deter a terrorist attack by, among other things:

 • Strengthening Border and Transportation Security - The new Department will bring together the Coast Guard, Customs Service, and Border Patrol, as well as border inspectors from the Agriculture Department’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. “The intent is not to dilute the other important missions of these agencies,” Thornberry noted. “Rather, the intent is to elevate homeland security as the number one mission of these agencies so they work well together in pursuit of this vital national goal.” 

• Improving Emergency Preparedness and Response - The Federal Emergency Management Agency will also be merged into the Homeland Security Department. According to Thornberry, this will provide the new Department with an existing national framework around which emergency planning and preparation operations can be built. It will also, he added, provide state and local officials with a single point of contact during emergencies, whether it is a natural disaster or a terrorist attack. “Instead of a phone book for the federal government,” Thornberry stated, “this new Department will provide state and local officials with one phone number.” 

• Enhancing Cyber and Infrastructure Security - The new Department will bring together some of the key federal agencies and offices with responsibility in this area, including the National Infrastructure Protection Center of the FBI, the National Communications System of the Department of Defense, and the Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office of the Department of Commerce. “It’s not just our physical borders and coastlines that we have to protect,” Thornberry said. “Our cyber borders are also extremely vulnerable. Our Nation’s computers are being attacked daily, and we need to put in place a stronger and more coordinated defense.”

Thornberry said he remained hopeful Congress could complete consideration of the realignment bill by early September so it could be on the President’s desk for him to sign by September 11.

“I can think of no better tribute to those who died than to make the changes that need to be made to keep America more secure,” Thornberry stated.