Providing Amounts for Interim Expenses of the Committee on Homeland Security in the First Session of the 109th Congress

PROVIDING AMOUNTS FOR INTERIM EXPENSES OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY IN THE FIRST SESSION OF THE 109TH CONGRESS

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Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, further reserving my right to object, I want to take a moment to both thank and applaud the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) for his diligence in determining the need for and pursuing the necessary funding for the authority for the new Committee of Homeland Security.

I think he has described amply the need and the necessity under which the circumstances arose and why this resolution is so important.

Third, I wanted to just take a brief moment to reflect on the extraordinary efforts of the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) and the former ranking minority member, Jim Turner, who is no longer with us, who took a skeletal concept of a committee and have turned it into a robust working reality.

I would like to extend my own deep sense of appreciation to former representative Jim Turner for his extraordinary leadership and contributions on national security issues and, in particular, homeland security during the 108th Congress.

As the first ranking member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, he vigorously pursued oversight and legislation to enhance the security of the American people. His diligent and purposeful efforts have prompted the leadership of our country to move faster with a strong and smart sense of purpose to preserve and protect the security of our Nation.

During the first 2 years of the Select Committee on Homeland Security's existence, his work resulted in a number of significant initiatives and related efforts that we pause and honor today. In particular, in April of last year former Representative Turner released a 90-page comprehensive plan to eliminate the threat of al Qaeda to the United States. The report, which includes over a hundred specific recommendations, sets forth a strategy to win the current war against al Qaeda and like-minded groups. Produced with the assistance of Democratic leadership and other committees, winning the war on terror reaffirms the commitment and need to prevail in the U.S. struggle against terrorism.

The comprehensive plan played a large role in the introduction later in the 108th Congress of winning the War on Terror Act, H.R. 5291, designed to implement a series of initiatives and defeat terrorists and enemies.

Mr. Turner's accomplishments and what he was able to do in conjunction with the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) serve as a standard for the way that committees should proceed in this area. I cannot commend him enough and will present further accolades attesting to the attributes of Mr. Turner and the outstanding job he did on behalf of the State of Texas and this great country of ours. His service was exemplary, and I think this body owes him a great deal of gratitude for the performance that he undertook, along with the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) on this committee, and to see this committee today come to fruition as a full standing committee I think is a tribute to both of their hard work and zeal.

The gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) will continue on. Mr. Turner, of course, is no longer in this body but will long be remembered for his diligent effort, his straightforward manner, his gentleman-like way that he dealt with both sides of the issue and the manner in which he was able to bring these very important issues to the floor of this House to proceed in protecting this great Nation of ours from threat, from dangers abroad and here at home.

Mr. Speaker, I want to say three things. First, I want to thank Chairman NEY for his diligence in determining the need for, and in pursuing the necessary funding authority for the new Committee on Homeland Security.

Second, as the original co-sponsor of this resolution with Chairman NEY, I want to take a moment to ensure that Members understand its purpose. Although House rule X provides temporary interim funding for committees which existed in the 108th Congress, and which the House rules have recreated in the 109th Congress, this temporary interim funding provision only applies to committees which succeed themselves in the new Congress. The former Select Committee on Homeland Security no longer exists, and the House rules have created a new, permanent standing Committee on Homeland Security to take its place. Because of this change, and in the absence of this resolution, the new Committee on Homeland Security would not have resources to operate until the House adopts the Omnibus Committee Funding Resolution sometime in March.

By adopting the resolution, the House puts the new select committee on essentially the same temporary funding basis as other committees.

Third, I want to take a moment to reflect on the extraordinary efforts of Chairman COX, and Ranking Minority Member Jim Turner, who took the skeletal concept of a committee, and turned it into a robust, working reality.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my own deep sense of appreciation to Representative Jim Turner for his extraordinary leadership and contributions on national security issues and, in particular, homeland security during the 108th Congress. As the first ranking member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, he vigorously pursued oversight and legislation to enhance the security of the American people. His diligent and purposeful efforts have prompted the leadership of our country to move faster, with a strong and smart sense of purpose, to preserve and protect the security of our nation. During the first 2 years of the Homeland Security Committee's existence, his work resulted in a number of significant initiatives and related efforts that I honor today. In particular:

In April of last year, Representative Turner released a 90-page comprehensive plan to eliminate the threat of al-Qaeda to the United States. The report, which includes over 100 specific recommendations, sets forth a strategy to win the current war against al-Qaeda and like-minded groups. Produced with the assistance of the Democratic leadership of other committees, Winning the War on Terror reaffirms the commitment needed to prevail in the U.S. struggle against terrorism. The comprehensive plan played a large role in the introduction later in the 108th Congress of the Winning the War on Terror Act, H.R. 5291, designed to implement a series of initiatives to defeat our terrorist enemies.

In February, 2004, Representative Turner, in concert with his Democratic colleagues on the Select Committee on Homeland Security, released a comprehensive report, entitled America at Risk: Closing the Security Gap, identifying the significant security gaps that continued to remain across the United States more than 2 years after the attacks of September 11. The comprehensive 135-page report identifies shortcomings in our homeland security efforts and recommends specific actions to ensure America is as safe as it needs to be from terrorist attack. An additional six oversight reports were subsequently issued on specific homeland security topics.

In September 2004, Representative Turner released a comprehensive 130-page report, entitled Transforming the Southern Border: Providing Security and Prosperity in the Post-9/11 World, calling for the transformation of the U.S. Southern Border to enhance security and promote economic prosperity. The result of a 6-month oversight effort, which included visits to multiple U.S. border communities, the report highlights the many security gaps that exist on the southern border and offers policy recommendations to close them. The comprehensive report was followed later in the 108th Congress with the introduction of the Secure Borders Act, H.R. 5130, to strengthen U.S. border security.

In addition to these efforts, Representative Turner, either alone or in concert with his Democratic colleagues, sponsored 12 homeland security legislative initiatives during the 108th Congress. Among other subjects, Representative Turner's efforts resulted in the introduction of the Prepare Act (H.R. 3158), containing unprecedented proposals to reform the U.S. first responder grant system by determining--for the first time--the essential capabilities needed to protect American communities; and the Rapid Cures Act (H.R. 4258), designed to develop a national plan to develop countermeasures to protect Americans against the threat of bioterrorism.

Mr. Speaker, these are only a few examples of the extraordinary contributions made by Representative Turner to our national homeland security effort. His leadership within the Democratic Caucus, and as a Member of the House on national security matters, has set a heightened standard for all of us to emulate. On the day that we create the first-ever permanent Committee on Homeland Security, it is fitting that we remember and honor the service and dedication of Representative Jim Turner.

Mr. Speaker, needless to say, as an original co-sponsor of this temporary funding resolution for the new Committee on Homeland Security, I urge each of my colleagues to support our country's continuing efforts to fight terrorism by voting in favor of this resolution.

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