Issue Position: Homeland Security

Issue Position

The September 11 terrorist attacks triggered one of the greatest reorganizations the federal government has seen since World War II, and brought to light vulnerabilities that may exist within our borders. Throughout these past eight years, we have learned as a country that we need to proactively plan and prevent for potential disasters, whether natural or man-made. The December 25, 2009 attempted plane bombing by a Nigerian national was a wake-up call for our intelligence community that we can never let our defenses down and that we must continue to work together. This means, among other things, ensuring that our intelligence and law enforcement officials at every level of government openly share the information needed to help prevent the next terrorist attack.

In an effort to address our vulnerabilities and keep our communities safe, I have worked side-by-side with my colleagues on the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee to help pass key legislation that not only bolsters the Department of Homeland Security, but also strengthens our nation's transportation systems, borders, critical infrastructure facilities and cyber security. In the coming months, our Committee will hold hearings to determine how we can also improve airline security and terror watch lists. I will also continue to help ensure that the men and women we count on to keep us safe receive the support and resources they need from the federal government.

Supporting Our State and Local First Responders -- Whether they are dealing with a hurricane, a terrorist attack, or an everyday fire, the men and women of our first responder communities are truly on the front lines daily. They deserve our fullest support. I believe it is a shared responsibility to build a culture of readiness that ensures our families, communities and businesses are prepared for emergencies of any kind. I will continue to work with partners throughout Delaware to make sure they have the most up-to-date equipment, technology and resources they need to attract and train the most talented public servants.

The homeland security legislation my colleagues and I have passed in recent years have made places like the Port of Wilmington more secure, the planes we travel on daily safer, and urban areas like New York City and coastal states like Delaware better prepared for man-made or natural disasters. While we have certainly come a long way in protecting our country since 9/11, there is much more that needs to be done.

Strengthening our Nation's Cyber Defense -- Over the past two decades, we have seen the Internet become ubiquitous throughout our society. More and more Americans go online to read their news, manage their bank accounts, and even meet new people. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find an activity that is not connected to the Internet in one way or another. Pretty soon the Internet will even help to make our nation's energy grid more efficient by directing energy to where it's needed, when it's needed. And someday soon, the Internet will also help hospitals more easily share patient information to drive down healthcare costs and reduce preventable medical mistakes.

But as Americans come to rely on the Internet more and more, we risk making ourselves vulnerable to new types of attacks. Since 2006, the Department of Homeland Security has reported a dramatic increase in cyber attacks against financial institutions, critical infrastructure such as the electric grid, and even government websites. Just last year, the Department of Defense reported that the plans for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, America's most advanced fighter jet, were stolen in a cyber attack.

In an effort to protect our nation's critical infrastructure and sensitive networks, I have introduced legislation that will better focus our cyber defense efforts. My bill would enhance the Department of Homeland Security's ability to share information with the private sector and other federal agencies so that all players, from private businesses to federal agencies, are aware of any threats and are able to coordinate their efforts. Further, my bill would eliminate the wasteful paperwork burden that many agencies are currently required to endure; a burden I've learned does not do much to actually improve agencies' cyber defenses. I look forward to working with colleagues in Congress and the Administration as we tackle this emerging and dangerous threat.

Preparing For The Next Disaster -- In addition to man-made threats, this country has seen its own infrastructure - roads, bridges, tunnels, utility grids, sewers - slowly start to decay. As a result, our country has been presented with a new set of challenges. This breakdown of critical infrastructure, such as with the Northeast power outage of 2003, the levee failures during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 or the Minneapolis Bridge collapsed in 2007, can disrupt our daily routines and even put lives at risk. We must ensure that the infrastructure Delawareans depend on - from the Port of Wilmington to the vital passenger and freight lines that run through our state - are safe and secure. And with Delaware at risk for hurricanes and flooding, we need to be prepared for any event. It is vital that the Federal Emergency Management Agency continue the improvements it has made since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and maintain a close partnership with first responders and emergency management officials in Delaware and our region.

Pandemic Preparedness -- Throughout the last century, the world has experienced a number of dangerous strains of the flu and other viruses. Whether it was the global outbreak of 1918, the SARs epidemic in 2002 or the H1N1 outbreak we are facing in 2009, the federal government must continue to work with states and localities to prepare our country for current and future waves of viruses. Since the identification of the H1N1 ("swine flu") virus back in April 2009, the federal government has aggressively developed a vaccination program for the public. This program has begun to vaccinate our communities from more infections, as well as help curtail their spread.

I will continue to work to ensure Delaware's Departments of Public Health and Safety receive the assistance they need to combat this outbreak. Our health and emergency workers are the first responders in this crisis and deserve Congress's full support. I will continue to work with my colleagues to help pass legislation that bolsters our nation's capability in dealing with these viral outbreaks, and make sure states like Delaware receive the necessary funding and services to prepare and respond to any type of health related incident.

Securing Our Borders -- As the world becomes more interconnected everyday through technology and faster, more efficient transportation systems, the ability to protect our citizens from crime and terrorism becomes ever harder. Whether it is programs such as the Visa Waiver Program or our Border Patrol's Secure Border Initiative, we must balance a strong national security policy with the unimpeded flow of commerce and legal immigration into our country. Like most of my colleagues, I have been a strong and consistent supporter of comprehensive immigration reform that is tough, fair and practical. We should continue to secure our borders not only from illegal immigration, but also to prevent the movement of contraband and narcotics into our communities. Moving forward, we must put politics aside and focus on a sensible way of reforming our immigration laws without offending our friends and allies abroad.

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