Homeland Security

20 May 2003

Ridge Says U.S. More Secure Now Than Before September 11, 2001

(Says budget increase of 18 percent needed to support security
strategy) (1410)
Washington -- U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said May 20
that the United States is significantly safer today than it was 20
months ago, before the coordinated suicide attacks by the
international terrorist group al-Qaida.
"We are safer because, as a nation, we are more aware of the threat of
terrorism and more vigilant about confronting it," Ridge said in
prepared remarks before the U.S. House of Representatives' Select
Committee on Homeland Security. It was Ridge's first appearance before
the newly created committee. His testimony was cut short after two
hours when he had to leave to meet with President Bush at the White
House.
The new Department of Homeland Security was created by President Bush
last year, but it officially began service in March 2003 after more
than 180,000 federal workers from 22 different agencies and
departments were combined into one cabinet-level department with the
expressed mission of combating terrorism.
"Given that brief time-span, I believe we have made a great deal of
progress in this enormous undertaking," Ridge said.
During the start-up period for the agency, Ridge said the department
has:
-- Launched Operation Liberty Shield, to prepare and protect the
nation, including its ports and critical infrastructure;
-- Completed TOPOFF II, an extensive terrorist response exercise;
-- Launched the multimedia "Ready" public information campaign, to
help U.S. families, businesses and schools become safer;
-- Announced the US VISIT system, which will use biometrics to track
the comings and goings of foreign visitors at U.S. airports and
seaports by the end of this year; and
-- Expedited the distribution of nearly $4 billion [$4,000 million]
dollars in federal grant monies to state and local governments.
Ridge said his department is seeking $36.2 billion [$36,200 million]
in budget authority for fiscal year 2004, which begins October 1. This
would represent an 18.3 percent increase over the current year's
funding.
"The budget request for the Department of Homeland Security supports
and carries out the president's National Strategy for Homeland
Security," he said. "This strategy provides the right framework to
pre-empt threats, as best possible, and prepare for any incident,
should an incident occur. It helps meet our needs in every phase of
homeland security, from border and transportation security to
infrastructure protection to emergency response and recovery."
Following is the text of Ridge's remarks, as prepared for delivery:
(begin text)
Statement of Secretary Tom Ridge
Department of Homeland Security
Before the House Select Committee on Homeland Security
May 20, 2003
Good morning. Chairman Cox, Congressman Turner, distinguished members
of the Committee. It is a pleasure and privilege to be here today to
discuss the progress and outlook for the Department of Homeland
Security.
Since this is my first opportunity to appear before you, let me begin
by congratulating you on the creation of this new committee.
I thank you for your willingness to serve on a body that shares both a
common focus and a common purpose with DHS. Your commitment to the
security of our homeland and the success of our department will be
critical to achieving the mission for which we were created.
It has been slightly less than four months since the Department of
Homeland Security came into existence and less than three months since
we truly became an operational entity.
Given that brief time-span, I believe we have made a great deal of
progress in this enormous undertaking. I hope that you will share my
assessment that we are, indeed, off to good start.
During this short time period, the Department of Homeland Security
has:
-- Launched Operation Liberty Shield, to prepare and protect our
nation, including our ports and critical infrastructure, during a
heightened threat period;
-- Completed TOPOFF II, the most extensive terrorist response exercise
in history;
-- Launched the multimedia "Ready" public information campaign, to
help families, businesses and schools become safer and stronger
citizens;
-- Announced the US VISIT system, which will use biometrics to track
the comings and going of visitors at our airports and seaports by the
end of the year; and
-- Expedited the distribution of nearly $4 billion dollars in grant
monies to states and localities. We also began to engage the Congress
to make sure that we put a grant system into place that maximizes
every federal security dollar.
These are just the most visible signs of progress.
As we speak, across the country people have been hired, trained and
deployed; equipment has been provided; investigations have been run
and campaigns have been conducted that have the terrorist networks
off-balance and on the run.
This quiet but remarkable progress has made a real difference. And it
was made possible by the sustained partnership between Congress, the
President and this Department, in conjunction with the states and
localities of this great nation.
We greatly appreciate the work you have done, the laws you have
written and the resources you have provided. And in that spirit, I
want to talk about how we can build on this progress in the months to
come.
To that end, I ask for your support of the President's Department of
Homeland Security Budget request for Fiscal year 2004. I believe it
lays a critical and solid foundation for the future.
At $36.2 billion, the budget request represents an 18.3 percent
increase in funding for DHS programs over the FY 2003 enacted base
levels. You'll note that it contains critical initiatives to advance
the efficiency and effectiveness of our Department, as well as to
sustain ongoing programs and vital services unrelated to security.
In short, the budget request for the Department of Homeland Security
supports and carries out the President's National Strategy for
Homeland Security. This strategy provides the right framework to
pre-empt threats, as best possible, and prepare for any incident,
should an incident occur.
It helps meet our needs in every phase of homeland security, from
border and transportation security to infrastructure protection to
emergency response and recovery.
It also engages the academic and scientific community and private
sector to find solutions to these challenges. In sum, it enables the
180,000 dedicated men and women of DHS to maximize their strength --
so that, together, we can help our nation rise to a new level of
readiness each and every day.
I would add that all of this makes us a stronger, healthier country as
well -- better able to cope with disasters, diseases and incidents of
every kind.
As we go forward into the future, I want to assure you that the
Department of Homeland Security will vigorously pursue our detection
and prevention missions while, at the same time work to respond and
recover from acts of terrorism.
We cannot choose one mission over the other. We must put an equal
effort into both.
Today, we are significantly safer than we were 20 months ago.
We are safer because, as a nation, we are more aware of the threat of
terrorism and more vigilant about confronting it.
We are safer because our homeland security professionals now have a
single Department leading them, and our states and cities have a place
to turn to for financial and operational support.
We are safer because Congress and the President have devoted an
unprecedented amount of resources and training to the effort.
And, with the help of all of our partners in Congress, the private
sector and the cities and states of this country, we will become safer
every day.
As Winston Churchill once said, when faced with another grave
worldwide threat to peace and liberty, "This is not the end. It is not
even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the
beginning."
In many ways, we are still just at the beginning of a new chapter in
American history -- a chapter of renewed commitment and capabilities
in the fight to safeguard the liberties, ideals and precious lives
that we hold sacred.
I assure you: It is a chapter that, together, we, as a nation, will
write.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee, I thank you for your
commitment, and for helping us build the capabilities to achieve our
mission. And I thank you for the privilege of appearing before you
here today.
I would be happy to answer any questions you have at this time.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)