Announcement by the Acting Chairman

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ACTING CHAIRMAN -- (House of Representatives - April 06, 2006)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in strong opposition to the fiscal year 2007 House budget resolution, a resolution that shortchanges our critical homeland security programs.

The funding provided under this measure leaves dangerous gaps in our Nation's border, ports, mass transit, aviation, and critical infrastructure security. It also fails to address the preparedness and response deficiencies laid bare by Hurricane Katrina.

When Katrina struck the gulf coast, it was a frightening wakeup call to our Nation that we could not handle a response to a major incident, regardless of whether it was a terrorist attack or natural disaster. Regrettably, the House budget resolution, like the President's budget request, continues a 4-year trend of underfunding the Department of Homeland Security and homeland security programs across the Federal Government.

The most egregious cuts and eliminations are to programs that assist our local and State officials in preparing for and responding to emergencies. The budget slashes first responder funding by $570 million. The Local Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program is completely eliminated. Communities across the Nation have come to rely on the program to help with information sharing among local law enforcement agencies as well as counterterrorism and security planning.

Like the President's budget, this budget unjustifiably cuts critical firefighter grant programs. The SAFER Act firefighter hiring program is eliminated. The FIRE Act grant program is cut by 50 percent. Together these programs are critical to ensuring that our local fire departments can recruit and retain firefighters and give them the tools they need to respond to emergencies and disasters. These programs should be increased, Mr. Chairman, not decimated.

Another grant program that is slashed under the budget is the Emergency Management Performance grants. This program is the singular Federal program for State and local all-hazards preparedness and readiness. Communities use this money to develop disaster plans, sheltering strategies, and evacuation routes.

In 2004, even before the name ``Katrina'' became synonymous with misery and loss, NEMA reported that this program faced a $260 million shortfall. Just 2 days ago, expert hurricane forecasters told America to prepare for another bad hurricane season. They predicted that the east coast chances of being hit this year had doubled to more than 60 percent. Yet here we are today considering a budget that slashes Emergency Management Performance grants. I hope the forecasters are wrong; but if they are right, Mr. Chairman, I for one do not want to be standing here 6 months from now if New Jersey, Long Island, or some other populated east coast center is hit, saying we could have done something.

Not only does this budget shortchange our communities, Mr. Chairman, but it also turns its back on them when it comes to covering the cost of keeping dangerous and criminal aliens incarcerated. The President's budget calls for the elimination of the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program. This resolution before us today does nothing to remedy that. With all the President's tough talk on border security, you would think that he would want to at least keep the most violent and dangerous illegal immigrants off our streets. Instead, this budget cuts the one program dedicated to helping our local cops and sheriffs put behind bars those who are breaking laws. Even Republicans last year disagreed with the President and joined Democrats in approving $405 million for the SCAAP program.

What has changed this year? They no longer want the criminals off the streets?

The budget also ignores the wakeup calls that came in 2004 and 2005 when terrorists executed coordinated rush hour train and bus bombings in Madrid and London. The budget does not provide dedicated funds to close known gaps in rail and mass transit systems to protect 14 million Americans, who use nearly 6,000 public transportation systems each day.

Under this budget, State and local transit agencies, which have already spent $2 billion to enhance security and emergency preparedness since 9/11 attacks, continue to be left largely to fend for themselves.

We are shortchanging the Coast Guard in this budget. That agency, which did the right thing in Hurricane Katrina, is using ships from the Vietnam era. In using these Vietnam-era ships, we put our Coast Guard at risk. This budget will ensure one thing: that the Coast Guard with need a lot of bubblegum, bailing wire, and buckets to stay afloat if it is approved.

Speaking of maritime security, this budget does little to ensure that ports can make the physical security improvements they need for high-risk containers coming to America.

I call on my colleagues to reject this budget for these reasons. Congress should no longer ignore the fact that homeland security begins at home, in our communities, towns, and in our cities. Let us do the right thing by the American people. Let us put a budget together that protects our Nation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

http://thomas.loc.gov