Dateline: November 21, 2002

Thornberry security plan gets Senate OK

WASHINGTON, DC – Twenty months after he first introduced legislation to establish a Department of Homeland Security, Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) voted for – and the US Senate approved Tuesday – a plan that would do just that.

“I am pleased that we have finally been able to reach agreement on this legislation,” Thornberry stated. “While I had hoped we would have approved the bill sooner, the important thing is that we are doing it now.  Acting quickly is critical to the security of the American people.

“This is not a perfect plan.  I have no doubt Congress will need to revisit portions of this plan at some point down the road.  You just don’t pull together over twenty different agencies and expect it to go off without a hitch.  But we’ve got to start someplace, and this plan will put the foundation in place to make our Nation more secure.

At present, Thornberry noted, more than 40 federal agencies have some responsibility for homeland security.  Under the plan approved this week, a number of these key agencies will be merged into a new Homeland Security Department.  These agencies include the Border Patrol, Customs Service, Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

This bill, which was approved by the House of Representatives by a vote of 299-121 and by the Senate 90-9, mirrors and builds upon HR 1159, legislation Thornberry introduced in March 2001 to reorganize homeland defenses.  Since introducing this bill, Thornberry has worked with the Bush administration and Congressional leadership to craft a reorganization plan.