Washington, D.C. – The Senate passed legislation today that U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., believes will help improve the nation's defense against domestic and international terrorism.
After eight long weeks of debate, Enzi and other proponents of the bill succeeded in passing H.R. 5005, a bill to establish a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that combines a variety of federal agencies into one department to spearhead the defense of the nation's borders, cities, seaports and the nation as a whole from terrorist attack. Enzi voted in favor of the bill which passed by a vote of 90-9.
Enzi is pleased with the legislation, but not the length of time it took to pass the measure. "Some of the Democratic leadership squandered a lot of time fighting to add more bureaucratic controls in the homeland security bill," said Enzi. "This department is designed to increase the efficiency of our nation's security efforts and it's time we start to get it up and running. I'm pleased a majority of my colleagues from the other side of the aisle finally recognized the need for this legislation and joined with Republicans to go forward with a homeland security strategy for our country."
The Republicans fought back a final attempt today by Majority Leader Tom Daschle and others to derail the bill with an amendment that would have struck a provision pertaining to vaccinations from a compromise version of the homeland security bill.
Enzi said there has always been provisions to limit liability in emergencies, but the Democratic amendment would have taken these out of this bill.
"If liability is not limited then we can forget a stable and adequate supply of vaccines in emergencies," said Enzi. "If the amendment had passed it would have diminished U.S. ability to respond to biological warfare."
The Democratic amendment would have also struck other provisions in the bill concerning transportation security measures and research and development.
The bill is a compromise that comes after months of debate on the ability of the President to waive the collective bargaining rights for some key employees of the new agency. The compromise measure will retain the Administration's ultimate authority to make personnel changes, but will also maintain the right of union officials to make recommendations and work out disagreements through a federal mediation service.
Enzi said the DHS will be comprised of four divisions, to be led by under secretaries, that will enable the President to move people and resources quickly to where they are needed. The divisions of the DHS include: border and transportation security, emergency preparedness and response, science and technology, and information analysis and infrastructure protection.
The border and transportation security division would be the largest of the four, combining the efforts of Customs Service, the Transportation Security Administration, and Border Patrol. The bill also provides rules for entering the country by allowing State Department consular officers to continue to issue visas, but under the direction of the DHS.
"This division is particularly important because it will allow us to know who is entering the country and when, and if they are leaving when they say they will," said Enzi. "As it is now, our various border security functions are not able to share information with each other about who is coming and going across our borders. Combining our resources will help the left hand know what the right is doing."
The emergency preparedness and response division will ensure that communities and first responders are prepared to address security threats. Built around the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the legislation would combine the efforts of that agency and the Secret Service to facilitate better communication with one another. It also encourages partnerships between the government and the private sector to help protect civilian infrastructures such as telecommunications, transportation and power grids.
The science and technology division allows the Secretary of the DHS to designate a lead homeland security research organization to help coordinate homeland security research across the government, academic community and private sector. It also establishes university-based centers to assist in training first responders and conducting research in a variety of areas related to homeland security, including bio- and agro-terrorism.
The CIA, FBI and other intelligence agencies will be required to coordinate with the division of analysis and infrastructure to assess terrorist threats.
Another provision of the bill will permit airline pilots to carry firearms as a last defense against hijackers. Enzi cosponsored legislation earlier this year that would require the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a voluntary program for qualified pilots of commercial, cargo or passenger aircraft to be deputized as federal law enforcement officers. Enzi also supported similar language introduced as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill last year.
The legislation will also move much of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms from the Treasury Department to the Justice Department.
The House passed an identical version of the bill on Nov. 13 by a vote of 299-121. The bill will next be sent to the President to be signed into law.
After eight long weeks of debate, Enzi and other proponents of the bill succeeded in passing H.R. 5005, a bill to establish a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that combines a variety of federal agencies into one department to spearhead the defense of the nation's borders, cities, seaports and the nation as a whole from terrorist attack. Enzi voted in favor of the bill which passed by a vote of 90-9.
Enzi is pleased with the legislation, but not the length of time it took to pass the measure. "Some of the Democratic leadership squandered a lot of time fighting to add more bureaucratic controls in the homeland security bill," said Enzi. "This department is designed to increase the efficiency of our nation's security efforts and it's time we start to get it up and running. I'm pleased a majority of my colleagues from the other side of the aisle finally recognized the need for this legislation and joined with Republicans to go forward with a homeland security strategy for our country."
The Republicans fought back a final attempt today by Majority Leader Tom Daschle and others to derail the bill with an amendment that would have struck a provision pertaining to vaccinations from a compromise version of the homeland security bill.
Enzi said there has always been provisions to limit liability in emergencies, but the Democratic amendment would have taken these out of this bill.
"If liability is not limited then we can forget a stable and adequate supply of vaccines in emergencies," said Enzi. "If the amendment had passed it would have diminished U.S. ability to respond to biological warfare."
The Democratic amendment would have also struck other provisions in the bill concerning transportation security measures and research and development.
The bill is a compromise that comes after months of debate on the ability of the President to waive the collective bargaining rights for some key employees of the new agency. The compromise measure will retain the Administration's ultimate authority to make personnel changes, but will also maintain the right of union officials to make recommendations and work out disagreements through a federal mediation service.
Enzi said the DHS will be comprised of four divisions, to be led by under secretaries, that will enable the President to move people and resources quickly to where they are needed. The divisions of the DHS include: border and transportation security, emergency preparedness and response, science and technology, and information analysis and infrastructure protection.
The border and transportation security division would be the largest of the four, combining the efforts of Customs Service, the Transportation Security Administration, and Border Patrol. The bill also provides rules for entering the country by allowing State Department consular officers to continue to issue visas, but under the direction of the DHS.
"This division is particularly important because it will allow us to know who is entering the country and when, and if they are leaving when they say they will," said Enzi. "As it is now, our various border security functions are not able to share information with each other about who is coming and going across our borders. Combining our resources will help the left hand know what the right is doing."
The emergency preparedness and response division will ensure that communities and first responders are prepared to address security threats. Built around the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the legislation would combine the efforts of that agency and the Secret Service to facilitate better communication with one another. It also encourages partnerships between the government and the private sector to help protect civilian infrastructures such as telecommunications, transportation and power grids.
The science and technology division allows the Secretary of the DHS to designate a lead homeland security research organization to help coordinate homeland security research across the government, academic community and private sector. It also establishes university-based centers to assist in training first responders and conducting research in a variety of areas related to homeland security, including bio- and agro-terrorism.
The CIA, FBI and other intelligence agencies will be required to coordinate with the division of analysis and infrastructure to assess terrorist threats.
Another provision of the bill will permit airline pilots to carry firearms as a last defense against hijackers. Enzi cosponsored legislation earlier this year that would require the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a voluntary program for qualified pilots of commercial, cargo or passenger aircraft to be deputized as federal law enforcement officers. Enzi also supported similar language introduced as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill last year.
The legislation will also move much of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms from the Treasury Department to the Justice Department.
The House passed an identical version of the bill on Nov. 13 by a vote of 299-121. The bill will next be sent to the President to be signed into law.
