Conference Report On H.R. 5441, Department Of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 5441, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007 -- (House of Representatives - September 29, 2006)
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Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.
Mr. Speaker, I rise for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with Chairman ROGERS and Chairman Sensenbrenner. I would like to address the meaning of section 546 of the fiscal year 2007 Department of Homeland Security appropriations conference report regarding the Western Hemisphere Traveling Initiative, also known as WHTI.
I would like to establish the fact that the language proposed in the conference report does not require a delay in implementation; in fact, the date change does not prohibit the administration from complying with its original deadline of January 1, 2008.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. KING of New York. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I agree it is important to recognize that paragraph 1(a) requires that the Secretary of Homeland Security develop and implement a plan for appropriate passports or other documents as expeditiously as possible. It then instructs the Secretary to complete implementation of WHTI by no later than the earlier of June 1, 2009, or 3 months from the date the conditions of paragraph 1(b) are met.
Thus, the Secretary may and, indeed must, begin the implementation process earlier than the June 1, 2009, deadline to ensure that he meets this mandate.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. KING of New York. I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky.
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Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.
Let me at the outset thank Chairman ROGERS for the extraordinary work he has done and the extraordinary cooperation he has exhibited toward the Homeland Security Committee.
There are two key components of this appropriations bill which are in fact legislation passed by our committee and which Mr. Rogers has so generously moved forward for us: certainly FEMA reform, and chemical plant security.
On the issue of FEMA reform, let me also commend Chairman REICHERT for the extraordinary work he did at the subcommittee and committee level; and on the chemical plant security legislation, let me commend Chairman Lungren for his work.
As someone coming from New York, let me point out the fact that this legislation includes a $30 million increase for the Urban Area Security Initiative, UASI, a grant program particularly important for the New York City and the metropolitan area.
On FEMA reform, this is real reform. This gives FEMA the leverage and the power and the autonomy it needs within the overall perspective of homeland security.
As far as chemical plant security, this is extraordinary legislation because for the first time it gives the Department of Homeland Security rulemaking power over the chemical plant industry.
I could go on for great length about this legislation, but I would like to yield to Sheriff REICHERT.
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Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. SABO. I yield to the gentleman from New York.
Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is our understanding, and we had the opinion of committee counsel on this, that it does not preempt States.
Mr. SABO. The intention is not to preempt the ability of the States.
Mr. KING of New York. That is not the intention.
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