Robert Byrd

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Spell it out on the floor in front of everybody. What is the amendment? Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum so that we may be able to see the amendment.

Mr. BYRD. Madam President. I have an amendment that I will offer at the appropriate time. Madam President, in this technological age of vehicle barriers, ground- based radar, camera towers, and unmanned aerial vehicles, I am pleased to note that the U.S. Border Patrol still guards America's southwest border in a timeless and very American manner, on horseback. Unfortunately, sometimes these horses are injured or simply are no longer fit for such rigorous service. When that happens, the Border Patrol must make the decision to either put the horse out to pasture, or, in some cases, as the only humane option, to relieve the poor animal's suffering and put it to sleep. Before that happens, my amendment would ensure that the Border Patrol provides the trainer or handler of the horse with an opportunity to adopt it. This is a very simple amendment. The Bureau of Land Management within the Department of the Interior already has a horse adoption program, which I encourage the Border Patrol to use as a model for creating its own program. My amendment would also ensure that such an adoption program includes appropriate safeguards to ensure that a horse, once adopted, is not sold for slaughter or treated inhumanely. This amendment would make 20 horses available for adoption per year within the Homeland Security Department. It is the humane and decent thing to do for these noble animals which help to secure our borders and keep our citizens safe. I urge the adoption of my amendment when it is offered later today.

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I thank my friend and colleague, the very able and distinguished Senator from South Carolina, for his characteristic courtesy. Mr. President, this morning, we return to the consideration of the fiscal year 2008 Homeland Security appropriations bill. The Appropriations Committee, by a vote of 29 to 0, produced a balanced and responsible bill. The bill includes significant resources for border security, for enforcing our immigration laws, and for improving security at our airports. We include--we include, may I say--significant new resources for implementing the SAFE Port Act. We also restore cuts in the first responder grants program. Last week, the administration released its latest National Intelligence Estimate concerning the terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland. Hear me now. I will say that again. Last week, the administration released its latest National Intelligence Estimate concerning the terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland. That is right here, the U.S. homeland. I will quote from the report. This is not just Robert Byrd talking. Let me say that again. Last week, the administration released its latest--I am talking about the administration, the Bush administration, the administration in control of the executive branch--the administration released its latest National Intelligence Estimate concerning the terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland. I will quote from the report: We judge the U.S. Homeland will face a persistent and evolving terrorist threat over the next three years. That ought to make us sit up and take notice. I am going to say it again. Hear me. Last week, the administration released its latest National Intelligence Estimate concerning the terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland. I will quote from the report: We judge the U.S. Homeland will face a persistent and evolving terrorist threat over the next three years. The main threat comes from Islamic terrorist groups and cells, especially al-Qa'ida, driven by their undiminished intent to attack the Homeland and a continued effort by these terrorist groups to adapt and improve their capabilities. . . . [W]e judge that al-Qa'ida will intensify its efforts to put operatives here. Let me repeat that word--here, H-E-R-E. Yesterday, in light of this latest threat assessment from the Government's most senior intelligence analyst--I better read that again. Yesterday, in light of this latest threat assessment from the Government's most senior intelligence analyst, I urged the President to reconsider his veto threat of this bill. This morning, we received the White House's response. The President has said he will veto this bill because he, the President--President Bush--regards the additional spending for border security, port security, aviation security, and for first responder grants as excessive. The President has every right to make this threat, but, in my view, the view of this West Virginia mountaineer, the threat is irresponsible. Let me say that again. In my view--and I am a U.S. Senator--the threat is irresponsible. If the President is going to scare the Nation by issuing intelligence estimates that say the threat of a terrorist attack is persistent and evolving, he, the President--President Bush--has a responsibility to back it up with resources to deter that threat. The Appropriations Committee recognizes the threat, and the Appropriations Committee of the Senate has responded responsibly. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the Statement of Administration Policy dated July 25, 2007. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I thank the very distinguished Senator from Maryland, the able Senator, for yielding. I rise to discuss the Graham amendment. In total, in fiscal year 2008, the bill includes $11,377,816,000 for border security programs within U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This is $1,288,302,000, or 12.7 percent, above fiscal year 2007, and $338,846,000 above the President's request. That is 3 percent over the President's request. With these funds, by the end of fiscal year 2008, there will be a total of 17,819 Border Patrol agents, 31,500 detention beds, and more than 12,700 immigration enforcement and detention personnel. Additionally, the combined funding in fiscal years 2006, 2007, and 2008 for border security fencing, infrastructure, and technology is more than $2.5 billion. Including the funding provided in this bill, since 2004, on a bipartisan basis under the leadership of Senators Byrd, Craig, and Gregg, Congress will have increased the number of Border Patrol agents by 7,000, the number of immigration enforcement personnel by 2,546, and the number of detention beds by 13,150. The President has threatened to veto this bill because of what he considers to be ``excessive'' spending. However, it is not ``excessive'' when we provide funds to secure our borders. I support continued bipartisan efforts to provide funding for real border security. We do not yet have the amendment, but I look forward to reviewing it. I yield the floor.

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Yes.

Mr. BYRD. Yes.

Mr. BYRD. Madam President, will the Senator yield?

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, on behalf of the Appropriations Committee, I call up a committee substitute which is at the desk.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. BYRD. Say that again, will you please, Senator. I want the people of America to hear what you just said. The point is very simple. There is an urgency in this appropriations subcommittee bill that I think is beyond the importance of other bills. Why? Because we have been told in recent weeks there is a gut feeling on the part of the person who heads our Homeland Security Agency that we may be attacked again. We have been told by the National Intelligence Estimate that the al- Qaida organization has reconstituted and regenerated itself and is the most serious threat to attack the homeland of the United States of America. If that is the case, and we have been warned--let me describe, again, the August 2001 Presidential daily briefing was headlined this: ``Bin Laden Determined to Strike in the U.S.'' That is what the President received in August of 2001.

Mr. BYRD. Now, you say the President. What are you talking about?

Mr. BYRD. Senator, I think that is worth hearing again. I want the American people to hear what you have said.

Mr. BYRD. Who is the chairman and ranking member?

Mr. BYRD. Something wrong, yes.

Mr. BYRD. Yes.

Mr. BYRD. Yes, sir.

Mr. BYRD. Let's do it.

Mr. BYRD. What does this mean, that the Senator just said? Tell us.

Mr. BYRD. And what is this bill?

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, this afternoon, the Senate will proceed to the Homeland Security bill. I speak in advance of that happening. In every State of the Union Address since the terrorist attacks on 9/ 11, the President has raised the specter of another attack. This past January, the President said--hear me, the President said: Every success against the terrorists is a reminder of the shoreless ambitions of this enemy . . . I wish I could report to you that the dangers had ended. They have not. It remains the policy of this government to use every lawful and proper tool of intelligence, diplomacy, law enforcement and military action to do our duty . . . to protect the American people. Let me say that again. The President said: Every success against the terrorists is a reminder of the shoreless ambitions of this enemy . . . I wish I could report to you that the dangers had ended. They have not. It remains the policy of this government to use every lawful and proper tool of intelligence, diplomacy, law enforcement and military action to do our duty-- To do our duty-- to protect the American people. And yet despite the President's warnings and the President's promises, the President's budget failed to commit significant resources to address these dangers. Too often the Department of Homeland Security settles for security that looks good on paper but leaves serious gaps in the defense of our homeland. There is too much rhetoric on homeland security and too little action; too much wind--too much wind--and not enough wisdom. Despite the August 2006 arrests in Britain of terrorists determined to blow passenger aircraft out of the sky over the Atlantic, we still don't have proven technology to detect liquid explosives. I wish to say that again. Hear me now; hear me. Despite the August 2006 arrests in Britain of terrorists determined to blow passenger aircraft out of the sky over the Atlantic, we still don't have proven technology to detect liquid explosives. On an average day, 7,500 tons of cargo is placed in the holds of passenger aircraft at our Nation's airports, little of which is screened for explosives and virtually none is screened for radiation. Our seaports remain vulnerable. Our police, firefighters, emergency medical teams, and emergency managers remain understaffed and underprepared to handle the challenges of the times. The White House--hear me down there--the White House talks a good game, but talk is cheap, cheap, cheap. But security is not cheap. The White House asserted that its budget proposes an 8-percent increase for the Department of Homeland Security. However, after sifting through the gimmicks, we found that it is a 1.7-percent increase above current funding. That is barely enough to cover inflation for existing programs. More paper security; more paper security. More failed promises; more failed promises. We have a responsibility. We have a responsibility; yes, we have a responsibility to the people of this country to do better, and this legislation meets that responsibility. For border security, the bill provides the funds to hire 3,000 new Border Patrol agents. The bill also includes $1 billion for border fencing, infrastructure, and technology. Our bill adds funds for 4,000 new detention beds, 3,050 more detention beds than are requested by the President. Get that? We commit the funds that are essential for a coordinated, comprehensive border security effort. Real security cannot be done on the cheap. Hear me. Real security cannot be done on the cheap. For aviation security, the bill invests funds that will help save lives, and it may be your life, it may be your life, it may be your life, maybe someone's life whom you know, it may be some child's life, but it cannot be done on the cheap. Despite a documented need for $3.6 billion to purchase and install explosives detection systems, the President--get this--the President, the President of the United States, proposes to cut, the explosives detection program by 17 percent. The bill provides $89.4 million above the President's request to purchase and install explosives detection equipment at airports. That is for you, the people of this country, to install this equipment at airports for your security. We take on the challenge of screening cargo before it is loaded onto aircraft, which you, the people of this country--the passengers--will board. The bill includes $66 million, $10 million above the request--$10 million above the President's request--to deploy 70 additional canine teams--God bless them, those good, great dogs--to deploy 70 additional canine teams, and more screening technology at airports nationwide, at airports where the people of this country will board nationwide. Funds are also provided to establish 20 radiation screening teams at key U.S. international airports to inspect aircraft and cargo. You, the people out there, will be boarding these aircraft. Let me say it again. Funds are also provided to establish 20 radiation screening teams at key U.S. international airports to inspect aircraft, which you will board, and cargo, which will be boarded by you, the people. All of this money is well spent. It will protect human lives and cargo and aircraft. In this legislation, we also speed up the work on disaster preparation. Two years ago--how soon we forget--just 2 years ago, Hurricane Katrina demonstrated our dismal failure in dealing with a major disaster. Hurricane Rita showed that we do not know how to organize an effective mass evacuation. I want to say that again. Hurricane Rita showed that we do not know how to organize an effective mass evacuation. Now, we better get on it. We better get with it. I am going to say it once again: Hurricane Rita showed that we--that is you and that is me--do not know how to organize an effective mass evacuation. That is hard to believe. Maybe it isn't so hard. The White House After Action Report on the hurricanes concluded, and I quote from that report. I am quoting from the White House After Action Report, not my report. We are not as prepared as we need to be at all levels within this country. We are not as prepared as we need to be at all levels within the country. What an understatement. What an understatement. Yet the President's budget proposes a $1.2 billion cut--a cut--in vital homeland security grant programs, including funds for disaster preparations and first responder training. Where, oh where, is the sense in that? According to the Department of Homeland Security's own estimates, two-thirds of the States and urban areas do not have adequate plans to respond to a catastrophic event. This legislation rejects the proposed budget cuts and puts us on the right track--planning and training for a catastrophic event. The bill that is before the Senate increases first responder funding by $644 million. The President signed the SAFE Port Act last year with great fanfare. Yet 9 months later, his budget--the President's budget-- includes no additional funds for the new security requirements contained in the law that the President signed. This bill makes good on the promises of the SAFE Port Act, hiring specialists to help inspect the 11 million containers that come into the United States every year. The bill commits funds directly to our ports to tighten security. Let me say that again: The bill commits funds directly to our ports to tighten security--security for you, the people out there--at the ports. Port security grants are increased by $190 million to the fully authorized level of $400 million. We double the frequency of unannounced Coast Guard inspections at our port facilities. Get that? You better wake up out there. I am going to say it again: We double the frequency of unannounced Coast Guard inspections at our port facilities, and we fund the installation of radiation detection equipment at our ports to guard against nuclear weapons and dirty bombs. I will say that again: We fund the installation of radiation detection equipment at our ports to guard against nuclear weapons and dirty bombs. The threat at our ports needs to be addressed now. It is foolish to delay any longer. In order to restore the ill-considered cuts proposed by the President for equipping and training our first responders, and to fund the increases that I have described for border, port, and aviation security, the bill exceeds the President's request by $2.25 billion. Incredibly, President Bush has threatened to veto the homeland security funding bill. Why? Because of what he, the President, labels as excessive spending. Excessive spending. That is what President Bush said. Let me read that again: President Bush has threatened to veto the homeland security funding bill--that is for you, the people out there in the hills and valleys of this great land. Why? He has threatened to veto the homeland security funding bill because of what he labels as excessive spending. The $2.25 billion increase in this bill is about what we spend in 1 week--1 week--in Iraq. Let me say that again. Now listen to me. Hear me now. Incredibly, President Bush has threatened to veto the homeland security funding bill because of what he labels as excessive spending. Yet the $2.25 billion increase in this bill is about what we spend in 1 week in Iraq. Just 2 weeks ago, the Secretary of Homeland Security was quoted as saying that it was his gut feeling that the United States faces an increased threat of attack this summer. Now, that is not Robert Byrd making that assertion. Let me say it again. Just 2 weeks ago, the Secretary of Homeland Security was quoted as saying--did you hear that--he was quoted as saying that it was his gut feeling--that is pretty deep--that our country faces an increased threat of attack this summer. That is now, isn't it? This is July. This summer. On the heels of the Secretary's warnings, the administration, our administration, the Bush administration, has released its latest National Intelligence Estimate concerning the terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland. Where is that? Here, the U.S. homeland. I will quote from the report. This is not Robert Byrd talking, this is the report, the National Intelligence Estimate, concerning the terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland. We judge the U.S. Homeland will face a persistent and evolving terrorist threat over the next three years. The main threat comes from Islamic terrorist groups and cells, especially al-Qaida, driven by their undiminished intent to attack the Homeland-- That is my homeland. That is your homeland. and a continued effort by these terrorist groups to adapt and improve their capabilities. . . .[W]e judge that al-Qaida will intensify its efforts to put operatives here. Where? Not out there, here. Here is everywhere in our homeland. As a result, we judge that the United States currently is in a heightened threat environment. . . .We assess that al-Qaida's Homeland plotting is likely to continue to focus on prominent political, economic and infrastructure targets with the goal of producing mass casualties, visually dramatic destruction, significant economic aftershocks, and/or fear among the U.S. population. These are the words written by the best intelligence analysts in our Government. Those are the words that should force our Government, both in the executive and in the legislative branches, to reevaluate the priority that we are giving to funding to stop terrorist attacks against this country, our country--my country, your country, our country. I call on the President--yes, I call on the President of the United States--to reconsider his veto threat in light of the concerns raised by his own administration. The mission of the Department of Homeland Security is critical to the safety of our citizens. The potential threats are enormous. The Congress must strike a balance that preserves our cherished freedoms and provides for enhanced security. We need to stop squabbling and pass the Homeland Security bill for the President's speedy signature. This is no time to jockey for political points or to argue over minor differences. The Appropriations Committee, by a vote of 29 to 0, has produced a balanced and responsible bill which needs action now. I thank Senator Cochran and his able staff for their support in producing this legislation. I yield the floor.

Mr. BYRD. I yield.

Mr. BYRD. Yes, Mr. President, I thank my dear friend and colleague. The Senate needs to hear the other side; all sides, all sides. I thank my colleague, and I yield the floor. Vote on Amendment No. 2381

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Adam Morrison, a detainee from the Coast Guard to the Homeland Security Subcommittee, be given the privilege of the floor throughout floor consideration of H.R. 2638.