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Since September
11, 2001,
Congress has
passed a number
of important
measures that
have increased
the security of
our homeland.
These include
the Real ID Act,
the passage and
reauthorization
of the Patriot
Act, and the
creation of the
Department of
Homeland
Security (DHS)
itself in 2003.
But while these
actions have
made the United
States a more
secure nation,
we must remain
vigilant. There
is still much
more work to be
done.
In recent
months, the U.S.
House of
Representatives
has continued to
build on this
record of
accomplishments,
passing the SAFE
Port Act earlier
this year, as
well as the
Border Security
and Terrorism
Prevention Act
last December.
As we’re all
well aware,
border security
and immigration
remain important
national issues,
and it is
important to
remember that
the House led
the way in calls
for stronger
border
protections.
Over the course
of the summer,
the House has
conducted
numerous field
hearings and
site visits to
ensure that we
find the right
solution to the
border security
and immigration
debate. The
American people
want Congress to
adopt
legislation that
will allow us to
regain control
of our borders,
and that is
exactly what the
House intends to
do.
In May of this
year, the
Committee on
Homeland
Security passed
another very
important piece
of legislation —
our Hurricane
Katrina “Lessons
Learned” bill.
Our plan will
enhance the
Federal
Emergency
Management
Agency’s role
and resources
within the
Department of
Homeland
Security, based
upon the
successful U.S.
Coast Guard
model. Like the
Coast Guard,
FEMA would be
granted autonomy
within the
Department,
while still
allowing it
ready-access to
important DHS
resources,
including
Customs and
Border
Protection, the
Secret Service,
and the Coast
Guard itself.
Our approach
also mandates
that the FEMA
Director be a
qualified and
capable leader,
as well as
making a number
of important
preparedness,
response, and
emergency
communications
improvements at
the federal,
state, and local
levels. In July,
the Senate
adopted a plan
very similar to
ours by an
overwhelming
87-11 margin. As
the House moves
forward, I feel
very strongly
that our
approach should
be the
centerpiece of
reform.
While we work on
enhancing our
federal disaster
response, it is
important that
we improve
security across
the country as
well. In July,
my committee
brought forward
a chemical plant
security bill
that increases
security at
chemical plants
nationwide. The
bill requires
the Secretary of
DHS to assess
and rank
chemical
facilities based
on risk and
ensures that the
highest-risk
facilities meet
stringent
security
requirements. If
enacted into
law, this bill
will do a great
deal to help
ensure our
nation’s
chemical plants
continue to
operate safely.
Finally, the
Committee on
Homeland
Security
continues its
push to ensure
that homeland
security funding
is distributed
on the basis of
risk. Despite
the seemingly
obvious
rationale, this
has not been the
case, with New
York City and
Washington,
D.C., receiving
40 percent cuts
in their
anti-terror
funding earlier
this year. It’s
simple, really —
anti-terror
funding should
go to the areas
with the
greatest threat
of terrorist
attack. Cities
and states
should not be
discriminated
against because
of a poorly
written
application, and
grants should
most certainly
not be doled out
based on some
arbitrary
political
formula, as is
the case with
many
first-responder
programs. This
has been a top
priority of mine
since I became
Chairman last
year, and I am
determined to
see Congress
enact a
solution. We
cannot allow our
high-risk cities
and states to be
shortchanged.
It has been five
years since
9/11; but we can
never let our
guard down,
never rest in
our efforts to
improve national
security, and
never forget the
horrors of that
day. Each and
every day, we
must do all we
can to prevent a
domestic terror
attack from ever
happening
again. And I
promise you
that, as long as
I am Chairman,
the Committee on
Homeland
Security will
continue to do
all that we can
to ensure that
the American
people remain
safe and secure.
RF
Peter King
represents the
3rd District of
New York in the
U.S. House of
Representatives.
He serves as
Chairman of the
Homeland
Security
Committee. |
