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TOPICS
House GOP criticizes post-9/11 security measure
House Homeland Security ranking member Peter King, R-N.Y., and his Republican staff fired an opening salvo on Monday against efforts by House Democrats to implement unfulfilled recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, setting the stage for an acrimonious scene when lawmakers meet Tuesday.
In a nine-page report released Monday, King and his staff argue that House Democrats are failing to implement all the 9/11 Commission recommendations and charge that Democrats voted against legislation in the past that would have enacted several key reforms.
The report also accuses Democrats of not providing a fair and open process for debating and passing their bill -- scheduled to be brought to the House floor Tuesday -- to implement the recommendations.
"In only their first few days in the majority, House Democratic leadership has already fallen short on the key security promise they made to the American people," King said in a statement. "Republicans have already enacted an overwhelming majority of the recommendations, and the opening of the 110th Congress was a terrific opportunity to finish the job. Unfortunately, it is amounting to nothing more than a missed opportunity. I'm very disappointed."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and two Democratic members of the 9/11 Commission fired back at a news conference, saying their bill will make America safer.
"This step tomorrow is a vital step for 9/11 reform and a giant leap for the national security of America," commission member Tim Roemer said.
The report by King and his staff opens with a published comment Pelosi gave to CongressDaily that House Democrats will pass all the 9/11 Commission recommendations on the first day they control Congress. But the report notes that the Democrats' bill does not address some recommendations, such as consolidating congressional oversight of the Homeland Security Department; transferring responsibility for paramilitary operations from the CIA to the Defense Department, and declassifying the overall intelligence budget.
The report also says the bill duplicates several Republican initiatives, such as overhauling the homeland security grant formula and creating a new grant program specifically for interoperability.
The report also criticizes Democrats for voting against legislation in the past three years that would have implemented some 9/11 Commission recommendations. It notes, for example, that House Democrats voted against the fiscal 2005 budget reconciliation bill, which established a $1 billion grant program specifically for interoperability and emergency communications.
"There's a clear contradiction here, as the Democrats all voted against the creation of a $1 billion interoperability grant program last Congress," King told CongressDaily. "I'm glad they've seen the light and now agree with our approach."
A Democratic aide said the fiscal 2005 bill was opposed on a party-line vote because it was so massive and included many measures Democrats did not support. "I don't think it's fair to say we voted against an interoperable grant program," the aide said.
COMMENTS
- I have a better idea. The employees who do immigration can all combine into a service. Let’s call it the Immigration and Naturalization Service and we can put it into a more appropriate department -- say the Justice Department. Those employees who do Customs work can be recombined into a service-- for the sake of our argument lets call it the Customs Service and it can also go back to a more appropriate department -- say the Treasury Department. There they can be joined by the Secret Service. While we are improving our government we should put the Coast Guard into a more appropriate department also -- say Transportation, and move TSA there as well. FEMA -- they want to be independent and worked better as a standalone agency. Sounds good to me. Oh no, I emptied Homeland Security and now there is nothing left. And what an improvement that would be! HR Specialist GovExec.com reader Posted January 9, 2007 2:13 PM
- Customs Agents are experts at WMD? Is that some new abbreviation for counterfeit couture, knock-off knick knacks, bogus baubles, hoax handbags, etc.? I'll give you that they are likely the second or third best agency out there for smuggling investigations, but WMD experts? GovExec.com reader Posted January 11, 2007 12:15 AM
- I fell completely out of my chair when I read your post! I can’t imagine why Congress also abolished Customs! What’s truly sad about your comments is that you have probably convinced yourself of this myth. Therefore, I see no reason why I should address your other fables. Oh, got to go, 24 with Jack “Customs Super Special Agent” Bauer’s just came back on TV. Get A Grip WMD Expert? Posted January 9, 2007 6:50 PM









