Pelosi Statement on President's Speech on the War on Terror

January 23, 2006

Pelosi Statement on President's Speech on the War on Terror

Washington, D.C. - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in response to President Bush's speech on the war on terror at Kansas State University:

"President Bush missed a critical opportunity today to explain why, more than four years after the 9/11 attacks, the American people are not as safe as they should be.

"The 9/11 Commission's final report card indicted the continued failure by the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress to meet the security needs of our nation and make Americans safer.

"Security gaps at our ports, our nuclear power plants and chemical production facilities, in our first responder communications, and airline cargo have long been identified. President Bush and Republican Congressional leaders say that closing these gaps are a priority, but they do not take even the most basic steps necessary to correct obvious problems in emergency preparedness.

"The President talked at great length today about his decision-making process on homeland security. But clearly, as evidenced by the 9/11 Commission's failing grades, it is not working. The American people deserve and expect that all elected officials will protect and keep America secure while respecting our Constitution and system of checks and balances.

"Democrats have better ideas - continue to support addressing completely all of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, and continue to fight for bipartisan solutions that will keep Americans safer."

http://democraticleader.house.gov/press/releases.cfm?pressReleaseID=1373