This story leads to one HUGE question: WHY have not the REPUBLICAN WHITE HOUSE and the REPUBLICAN HOUSE and SENATE addressed these serious flaws in America's national security BEFORE NOW??
♦♦♦ Final Report on 9/11 Commission Recommendations ♦♦♦♦
December 5, 2005
http://www.9-11pdp.org/press/2005-12-05_summary.pdf
HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Radio spectrum for first responders F/C *
Incident Command System C
Risk-based homeland security funds F/A*
Critical infrastructure assessment D
Private sector preparedness C
National Strategy for C-
Transportation Security
Airline passenger pre-screening F
Airline passenger explosive screening C
Checked bag and cargo screening D
Terrorist travel strategy I
Comprehensive screening system C
Biometric entry-exit screening system B
International collaboration on D
borders and document security
Standardize secure identifications B-
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Democrats Restore Congress from "Do-Nothing" to "Do-Something;"
Homeland Security Bill Passes House on First Day
BuzzFlash news alert
Wed, 01/10/2007
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/154
In the first regular day of proceedings, the House began its "100 Hours" campaign yesterday by passing a bill to enact the 9/11 Commission's recommendations as promised. The bill, H.R. 1, follows more than five years of Republican inaction on homeland security since September 11th and about half that time since the recommendations were issued.
"It’s a darn shame we didn't do it when we had the opportunity," said GOP Rep. Christopher Shays, one of 68 Republicans to help pass the bill, 299-128. "I can't explain it."
"Here is a chance for Congress to stop dragging its feet – to become the 'do something' Congress," said House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson on the floor before the vote, referencing the previous Congress' "do nothing" label. "We can stand around complaining and pointing fingers or we can finally do the job we were hired to do."
Of course, most Republicans are still complaining and pointing fingers. Thompson mentioned in his speech that Republicans have previously whined that they had already fulfilled the 9/11 Commission's recommendations, but now Republicans are saying the Democratic bill leaves many recommendations unaddressed. "I’m a bit baffled," Thompson noted on the flip-flop.
Many Republican congressmen are also whimpering that they were not included in the authoring or passage of the bill. But Democrats started from exactly where Republicans left off - by starting with nothing! Besides, it is hardly as if Republicans ever asked for Democratic input on anything over the last decade.
Apparently Republicans are a little rusty at the whole business of passing legislation. They are still in good practice, however, with baffling folks through their nonsensical partisan squabbling.
The homeland security bill still has to go through the Senate and the White House, neither of which have displayed the House's ambitious dedication to quickly passing a much needed agenda. One major hurdle includes opposition to a pork-reducing measure to appropriate funds to states based more on actual needs and risks than the current system prescribes. Many Republicans are also hesitant to provide the necessary spending to ensure that all foreign sea and air cargo is inspected before reaching America.
As the Senate debates S.1, the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act, the House is currently working on the passage of their next goal, an increase in the minimum wage.
