Press Release - Coble Speaks On 9-11 Resolution

COBLE SPEAKS ON 9-11 RESOLUTION

Washington, Sep 13 - The chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security said that as the House debates a resolution on the 5th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, that the U.S. has taken important steps in making America safer, but that more work needs to be done. U.S. Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC) said on the House floor today that port security, prison overcrowding, and porous borders remain concerns for him.

"We have to stay one step ahead of those who would do us harm." Rep. Coble stated on the House floor. "This is like no other challenge we've faced. These enemies would walk into this chamber to kill all of us, and then kill themselves. The only way we can defend ourselves, is to improvise and continue to adjust to their changing threats." Congressman Coble's complete statement appears below:

"I rise in support of H. Res. 994. Mr. Speaker, I will never forget the sense of helplessness while we watched the events of September 11 unfold before our very eyes. As the entire world witnessed the unthinkable, we in the United States could only look to one another and pray for the strength and courage to cope with what was happening.

I don't know if there's anything that the Congress or the President could do short of capturing Osama Bin Laden that everyone would agree was an appropriate response. Our critics claim that we are not safer now than before the attacks of 9/11. Although there is no measure to evaluate our efforts in the war on terrorism, I say Mr. Speaker, that the absence of additional attacks in the U.S. and the apprehension of would-be attackers throughout the world, bodes well for the actions that we have taken.

"First and foremost, the USA Patriot Act has empowered law enforcement officials to effectively track and gather sensitive intelligence information on potential terrorism leads. Our Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security held 12 hearings on this legislation. This law was scrutinized by the best legal minds in the world, by countless Republican and Democratic members, along with numerous administration officials, and was enacted because it is essential in preventing another terrorist attack in the United States. In fact, in order to ensure the Patriot Act is successful, Chairman Sensenbrenner has made oversight and implementation of the Patriot Act and the Department of Justice a top priority for all of the members of the Judiciary committee.

"We've also created a new Department of Homeland Security; we've reformed intelligence gathering; we've expanded the Air Marshal program to police our jetliners; we've secured the cockpits on commercial airliners to prevent future hijackings; we continue to test security measures at our airports; we've shut down international networks financing terrorist groups - including an illegal cigarette sales operation in North Carolina and Michigan; we've created new port security measures; and we are attempting to resolve the immigration morass that has plagued this country for years.

"Mr. Speaker, the legislative effort by the Judiciary committee and the Congress to secure our nation and prevent another attack on our homeland is unparalleled in my tenure in this House. Unfortunately, we know weaknesses exist. Our borders are porous and my Coast Guard instincts fear that the enemy may be focusing its next attack on one of our ports. I have repeatedly expressed concern about overcrowding in our prisons, which may be a ticking bomb waiting to explode. Recent media reports detail that our prisons may be fertile grounds for terrorist groups interested in recruiting new members. The plot to blow up jetliners recently prevented by British authorities underscores the urgency of this situation.

"Mr. Speaker, I'm afraid there are many other security gaps the terrorists have already planned to exploit. We have to stay one step ahead of those who would do us harm. This is like no other challenge we've faced. These enemies would walk into this chamber to kill all of us, and then kill themselves. The only way we can defend ourselves, is to improvise and continue to adjust to their changing threats. I support this resolution and thank my Republican and Democratic colleagues for their work to defend our homeland. I would also like to thank my constituents for their patience and understanding with our shortcomings and their recognition of our successes in our war against terrorism. After all, Mr. Speaker, they are who we are trying to protect."

http://coble.house.gov/news/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=50174