A Progress Report on Homeland Security From Congressman Chet Edwards

A PROGRESS REPORT ON HOMELAND SECURITY FROM CONGRESSMAN CHET EDWARDS Thursday, August 12, 2004

ENSURING AMERICA'S FUTURE WITH THE RIGHT SECURITY CHOICES NOW

Dear Friend,

It has been nearly three years since the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. None of us will ever forget the cowardly murder of so many innocent civilians or the unselfish courage of our first responders-New York City firefighters and police officers.

I want to give you an update on actions taken by Congress and the Administration over the past three years on an issue that is important to all of us and our families-homeland security.

Despite the partisanship that too often affects issue debates in Washington, D.C., much has been done on a bipartisan basis to strengthen our homeland security. There is still much to do, and there will be honest differences on specific programs and priorities, but I believe it is crucial that we continue to work together to protect our nation from terrorist threats.

There is no doubt that terrorists have made it their goal to kill innocent Americans as a means to disrupting our democracy and way of life.

Osama bin Laden has even said if he could obtain nuclear weapons, he would not hesitate to use them against the United States. That is why I have helped lead the fight in Congress to better protect massive amounts of nuclear material in Russia and to put in place nuclear detection devices in seaports around the world.

I believe terrorists have underestimated the American will and spirit, just as Hirohito did after Pearl Harbor. We Americans might be diverse in our views, but when our homeland is threatened, no nation will be more determined to protect our security. Those who underestimate our national will do so at their own peril.

In the accompanying report to you, I have outlined significant, positive homeland security actions we have taken on a bipartisan basis over the past three years in numerous areas, including law enforcement, intelligence, border patrol, national defense and others.

As a nation that reveres personal liberty, we recognize that security cannot be obtained at the cost of losing constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. We also understand that with 7,514 miles of land border and 95,000 miles of shoreline, no one can reduce the threat of terrorism to zero. However, our local, state and federal governments, properly equipped, trained, and funded, will continue to work together to protect our families and communities.

Long before the tragic attacks of September 11th, 2001, Thomas Jefferson said, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." His wisdom is still relevant to our war on terrorism today. We will win this war, but it will require our determination and perseverance.

Even as I write, I know our thoughts and prayers will be with our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout the world as they risk their lives to protect the American family.

Sincerely,

Chet Edwards
Member of Congress

Recognizing Threats Abroad to Protect Our Security At Home

Fighting Nuclear Terrorism

Nuclear terrorism is a very real threat. In early 2001, months before September 11th, a blue-ribbon task force outlined the threat posed by the spread of nuclear materials.

(Quote Box)"The most urgent unmet national security threat to the United States today is the danger that weapons of mass destruction or weapons-usable material in Russia could be stolen and sold to terrorists or hostile nation states and used against American troops abroad or citizens at home." Former U.S. Senators Howard Baker and Sam Nunn, Task Force Report to the Secretary of Energy January 2001

The size of these inventories and the pool of scientific and technical expertise, along with their vulnerability to theft or diversion, pose dangers of immense proportions.

We have been working with the Russian government for years under the landmark Nunn-Lugar program, to increase security around the nuclear material within their borders. As Senator Nunn recently observed, "The most effective, least expensive way to prevent nuclear terrorism is to secure nuclear weapons and materials at the source. Acquiring weapons and materials is the hardest step for terrorists to take and the easiest for us to stop." Former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, Co-Chairman Nuclear Threat Initiative

(Quote Box): "Chet Edwards is one of the key leaders in Congress working to make our nation and world safer. Chet has the vision to know that protecting and destroying vulnerable materials and weapons of mass destruction in the former Soviet Union is clearly a top national security priority for our nation." Former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, Co-Chairman Nuclear Threat Initiative

Terrorist operatives have repeatedly tried to get their hands on nuclear material over the last decade. As a member of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees key homeland security programs, I have spearheaded the fight for increases in Nunn-Lugar programs to secure these materials. In particular, I have secured additional funds to:

• Improve security around nuclear weapons materials in Russia, where deadly deadly nuclear materials had been protected by the equivalent of high school lockers;

• Employ Russian scientists on commercial activities, so they don't sell their services to al Qaeda, Iran, or other terrorist states;

• Install radiological detectors at the busiest foreign ports, so nuclear materials can be detected overseas - before terrorists can get them to targets in America.

There is much more work to be done. A recent Harvard study noted that only 37% of the Russian sites had received security upgrades. According to Department of Energy budget documents, by October 2004, nuclear material sufficient to build 16,000 bombs will still be in Russian facilities that lack the most basic security protection, such as fences, strengthened doors and locks. Since 1992, we know that nuclear material has been stolen fourteen times from facilities in Russia. Fortunately, the Russian government was able to recover it before it could be put to use against us. Fighting nuclear terrorism must be a top priority as we move forward.

Intelligence

• Prevention is the key. We are thoroughly reviewing flaws in our intelligence programs even as we respect the many dedicated employees who have prevented multiple terrorist attacks against the homeland.

• Congress is increasing funding for human intelligence sources and improving communications between agencies.

Project Bio-Shield

• This program will fund stockpiling of vaccines to counter biological or chemical attacks with agents such as anthrax, smallpox or other toxins.

• The Department of Homeland Security is deploying sensors to major cities to quickly detect airborne biological or chemical attacks.

Protecting Our Borders

• Our border control has become more effective and efficient by combining immigration, customs, and agriculture inspection functions.

• There has been an increase of over 1200 border agents since 2001, but levels are still far below the requirement set by Congress and the Administration.

Protecting Our Skies

• We are now checking 100% of airline passenger baggage, but less than 5% of commercial cargo carried on passenger aircraft is examined. It is essential that we speed up the process of checking non-passenger cargo on passenger flights.

• There are still insufficient numbers of air marshals - 20% fewer than the requirement.

Protecting Our Sea Ports

• Only a small percentage of the cargo containers that enter our sea ports are physically inspected. In response, we are installing radiation detectors and increasing inspectors at many domestic and international ports.

• The Coast Guard estimates that ports need to spend $5.4 billion over the next ten years to meet security standards.

Protecting the Food Supply

• Only two percent of food imports are inspected for disease.

• The Department of Homeland Security has established a National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense at Texas A&M to protect cattle, other animals, and crops from attacks on our food supply.

Preparing First Responders

• Several grant programs have been created to provide grant funding to local first responders, our firefighters, emergency personnel, and police officers. Unfortunately, many of these programs have been cut from last year.

• The House has restored funding (reversing a 63% cut in the budget request) for the National Emergency Response and Readiness Training Center (NERRTC) at Texas A&M, which trains first responders to handle emergencies such as terrorist attacks.

Maintaining A Strong National Defense

• Congress has provided more than $150 billion in supplemental funding to conduct operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and the broader war on terror. The defense budget has increased from $309.9 billion in 2001 to $379.6 billion in 2004 to more than $400 billion expected in 2005.

• DOD is continuing to develop a national missile defense system to defend our homeland against the threat of nuclear attack from rogue states. While terrorists are the primary threat today, we must prepare ourselves for all threats - including the possibility of attack from states like North Korea or Iran.

The Department of Homeland Security

Soon after the September 11th attacks, it became clear that we needed better communication between federal agencies protecting our homeland. I voted for the Homeland Security Act and on January 24, 2003, the Department of Homeland Security was created.

This new Department consolidated 180,000 people working in 22 different government agencies. For example, it brought under one roof various border security functions such as Border Security, the Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the U.S. Customs Service, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The top priority will be to coordinate their efforts in order to prevent further terrorist attacks on our homeland.

There have been growing pains as the new management took control and new lines of communication were developed. However, better coordination and communication between these agencies will make them more efficient and it will make Americans safer.

Our reinvigorated focus on the homeland security mission has also brought new resources to many of these functions. In this year's budget, the Department of Homeland Security is receiving $33.1 billion, a 9% increase over last year. This is a major investment in tax dollars, but the cost of future terrorist attacks would be much greater in human and economic loss.