Bennie Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I have no more speakers. If the gentleman from California has no more speakers, then I am prepared to close after the gentleman closes.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 2830 is an important milestone in protecting our Nation's port and maritime security. It is the first bill to provide adequate resources to an agency that has been systematically underfunded for years. H.R. 2330 authorizes 1,500 additional Service Members, more Maritime Security Response Teams, more Canine Detection Teams, and the Waterway Watch program. This bill was favorably reported by my committee on a bipartisan basis last fall. Representative King and I share a commitment to the Coast Guard. I am pleased that we were able to work together to give the Coast Guard the resources it needs. For too long, the Coast Guard has had to make do with aging assets that do not meet the challenges of a 9/11 world. The Coast Guard is actually still operating boats that were used during World War II. It is time that these boats were retired and newer assets brought into service. These boats, however, must work. Unfortunately, the Coast Guard has accepted, under the Deepwater contract, boats that can't even float. That is unacceptable. The American public and the men and women of the Coast Guard deserve better. The Homeland Security Committee has added the Deepwater reform provisions during our markup to get this critical program back on course. I would like to thank Chairman Oberstar and Chairman Cummings for displaying a willingness to work with me to bring this bill to the floor. I urge passage of this important legislation that will significantly improve the security of our Nation's maritime environment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, Petty Officer Bruckenthal and two Navy petty officers were killed during a coordinated suicide attack on the oil platforms off the coast of Iraq. These men offered what President Lincoln referred to as ``the last full measure of devotion'' for their country.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, for the sake of clarifying an issue brought up, I would like to yield 15 seconds to the chairman of the full T&I Committee, Mr. Oberstar.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Loretta Sanchez), who has been a leader on this issue on the committee, as well as one who is vitally interested in the reporting of various sexual assaults at the Academy.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this rule. Every day the valiant men and women of the United States Coast Guard save lives and protect the welfare of our great country. And every day the Coast Guard lives its motto and stands always ready to help those in need. Since the devastating attacks of September 11, 2001, the Coast Guard has taken on the enhancement role in homeland security. Yet the President has consistently submitted budgets that fail to give the Coast Guard adequate resources to execute all its missions. Now it's our turn to help them. The legislation to be considered today, H.R. 2830, funds the Coast Guard at $8.4 billion, $200 million over the President's budget. It also increases the Coast Guard in strength to 47,000 by adding 1,500 new members. The bill authorizes additional maritime security response teams to provide anti-terrorism protection for strategic shipping, high-interest vessels, and other critical infrastructure. These teams are the Coast Guard's quick response force. They can be deployed rapidly anywhere in the Nation via air, ground, or sea to respond to changing threat conditions. H.R. 2830, Mr. Speaker, also authorizes additional K-9 detection teams to detect explosives, drugs, and smuggled persons. Additionally, this bill authorizes the Waterway Watch program, a nationwide initiative modeled after Neighborhood Watch programs, to allow fishermen, recreational boaters, and others who work or play on American waterways to notify the Coast Guard of suspicious activities. Since 9/11, the Coast Guard has struggled to develop much-needed port security regulations, including those mandated by the Safe Ports Act, such as long-range vessel tracking and enhanced crew member identification. H.R. 2830 address this critical gap and others by creating a dedicated assistant commandant for port and waterway security to oversee port security measures. With respect to liquefied gas terminals, the bill requires the Coast Guard to protect and enforce the security zones around all existing LNG facilities. Admiral Allen himself has acknowledged, Mr. Speaker, to Congress that when it comes to the proliferation of LNG facilities, he doesn't have the resources necessary to fulfill the Coast Guard's port security responsibilities.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. That allows, Mr. Speaker, the Coast Guard to partner with the State and local entities to protect the security zones around LNG facilities. Last, and certainly not least, Mr. Speaker, the improvements that the bill makes in the Deepwater program. In the future, there will be contract managers at the Coast Guard that know their job and never again will the Coast Guard be in the absurd position of accepting boats that don't float. I urge a ``yes'' on the rule and on the underlying bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5712, the ``Close the Contractor Fraud Loophole Act.'' The name of this bill really says it all. Today, as I speak, there is a loophole in Government procurement regulations that allows some contractors to avoid reporting violations of Federal law or overpayments. The privilege--and, yes, it's a privilege--of earning Federal dollars carries with it certain responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is to do your utmost to avoid fraud, violations of law, and overpayments. Now, I understand that many large contractors have thousands of employees, and sometimes there can be a bad apple. But when a contractor learns of such a bad apple, it is its responsibility to report what it learns to the Government, and to make the Government whole for any loss. Today, most contractors working in the United States are required by regulation to do just this. But contractors working overseas, and a few here in the U.S., fall outside this simple, commonsense reporting requirement. This is not right--contractors accepting Federal dollars should be treated the same, whether they are performing the work in the United States or overseas, and regardless of whether they are selling ``commercial items.'' I want to commend Mr. Welch and Chairman Waxman for recognizing this problem, and for doing something about it. Now that they have acted, the administration says that this loophole was a ``bureaucratic mistake'' and should be closed. Yet, before Congress moved, the administration was curiously slow to do anything to address this ``mistake.'' My committee has devoted a lot of time and energy to examining the Department of Homeland Security's contracting practices. What we have found is not always pretty. The Department is young, and has made some poor contracting decisions. But poor decisionmaking and the occasional inexperienced contracting officer is not a license for abuse, and it is incumbent on any contractor who discovers such abuse to report it. I hope the administration makes good on its word and closes this loophole, but I'm mindful that it took congressional oversight and action to stir them into action. This is oversight at it best, and make no mistake, our oversight--of both the Government and the contractors themselves--will continue. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3033, the ``Contractors and Federal Spending Accountability Act of 2008.'' H.R. 3033 mandates the establishment of a database that includes detailed information on civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings concluded against contractors and grant recipients by State and Federal governments; a listing, by contractor or grant recipient, of all contracts or grants that were terminated; any suspensions or debarments, or any agreement to resolve a suspension or debarment; any findings that the contractor or recipient is not a ``responsible'' source for Federal contracts. As the great justice Louis Brandeis famously wrote, ``sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.'' H.R. 3033 will shed some sunlight on the contracting world. This database will have myriad uses. Governments at all levels can turn to it when considering whether to award a contract or grant. Citizens can look to see how their tax dollars are being spent--and what steps are being taken to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. Job seekers can look up prospective employers to find out what kind of company they might work for. Companies can do a little due diligence about prospective customers or vendors. In this information age, there is simply no reason information such as this should not be available to all of us. My committee oversees the Department of Homeland Security. It is still young, as are many of its contracting professionals. But even the ``old pros'' of the Department are new to homeland security contracting--because homeland security contracting itself is new. A database like this--that allows these officials to quickly examine the history of prospective, contractors--might have helped the Department avoid some of the contracting fiascos that have plagued it to date. I am hopeful it will help the Department pick the best contractors in the future. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4056 which provides Congress the ability to recognize and honor the dedicated men and women in Federal law enforcement who risk their lives and welfare daily while performing necessary and often hazardous duties. There are thousands of Federal Law Enforcement Officers, FLEOs, including those that bravely serve in the Department of Homeland Security. Of these thousands, some are injured in the course of duty. I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to these individuals, especially given the difficult task they have of enforcing our laws and protecting our way of life. In the Department of Homeland Security alone, countless FLEOs serve to protect the Nation from harm at our borders and ports of entry as well as our financial, cyber and transportation systems. On a daily basis, these individuals work diligently, often apprehending or detaining people suspected of criminal offenses, even if it means putting themselves in harm's way. Their work is absolutely necessary to the security and well-being of our country and it should be properly acknowledged. While measures exist to award military personnel and State and local officers for their sacrifices, currently only 2 out of the more than 70 Federal agencies recognize their own valiant FLEOs. Therefore, it is imperative that Congress address and highlight the value of these distinguished men and women by establishing a Congressional Badge of Bravery. I urge all my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, It is my pleasure to be here today to honor the employees of the Department of Homeland Security. As we mark the Department's fifth anniversary, we must keep in mind that it is the people of the Department who make the sacrifices to keep us all safe. Five years ago, this new Department was created and charged with the crucial mission of protecting and securing our homeland. This was not an easy task in the wake of the September 11th attacks. Hurricane Katrina demonstrated that this was a broader mission than the Department's leadership initially thought. However, despite the challenges before them, the employees of the Department have remained focused on ensuring the security of all Americans. We talk about the activities of TSA or FEMA or CBP. What sometimes gets lost in the discussion are the individuals behind the acronyms. The people of DHS deserve our praise and our gratitude. They include the Customs and Border Protection Officers who man our ports-of-entry; the Federal Air Marshals who, everyday, sit through the same flight delays that so frustrate the American public to do their part to keep the flying public secure; FEMA teams who trek selflessly into disaster zones to help those in need; and support personnel such as contracting officers, administrative assistants, technical support teams without whom the folks on the front lines could not do their jobs. I could go on, but my time is limited and I think my point is clear. All the men and women of the Department deserve to be recognized for 5 years of hard work. They work nights, weekends, and holidays. They put their life on the line to secure our country from all manner of threats. Today, we are here to extend a hard-earned and much deserved ``Thank You.'' As Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, it is an honor for me to stand here today in support of this resolution. I have, at times, been critical of the Department's management. But I want to be very clear: my criticism of the Department's management should in no way be construed as a lack of appreciation for the individuals who are making daily sacrifices to secure our Nation. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring these ``everyday heroes.''

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I would rise today in strong support of the underlying bill which reauthorizes one of the most effective agencies in the Department of Homeland Security. H.R. 4847 provides $70 million annually to the Fire Administration through 2012 to ensure long-term funding stability for this critical agency. I would like to thank the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Mitchell, and the chairman of the Science and Technology Committee, Mr. Gordon, for their leadership on this issue and for working with me to bring this legislation to the floor today. Mr. Chairman, the statistics are sobering. Every year, over 100 firefighters die in the line of duty. In 2005, the National Fire Protection Association reported 3,675 civilian deaths, nearly 18,000 civilian fire injuries, and over $10 billion in direct losses due to fire. The United States Fire Administration plays a critical leadership role in leading local fire departments to dramatically reduce these numbers. Mr. Chairman, I, along with all of the other speakers who have come before you in support of this legislation, encourage its passage.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in support of the amendment offered by my good friend, a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Mr. Pascrell. The gentleman from Paterson, New Jersey, is a leader on the committee and in Congress on first responder issues. As a former volunteer firefighter and graduate of the Mississippi Fire Academy, I understand that many firefighters are unable to travel to the National Fire Academy's campus in Maryland to partake in training. The Fire Academy recognizes this need. By harnessing technology, the Fire Academy partners with existing local and State training academies to reach more first responders. The Pascrell amendment addresses one key area of training: terrorism response training. Specifically, the amendment seeks to ensure that fire service personnel get training on response tactics and strategies for dealing with ``terrorist-caused national catastrophes and incidents that involve weapons of mass destruction.'' Such incidents can be very complex and require response from many public safety agencies across multiple jurisdictions. Today, the Fire Academy has a terrorism curriculum in place. The Pascrell amendment will ensure this continuation. It has been nearly 7 years since the attacks of 9/11, and, thankfully, we have not been attacked since. However, Mr. Chairman, the threat is still very real. As Members of Congress, it's our collective responsibility to ensure that responders in our communities are fully trained, equipped, and staffed to answer the question call. Once again, I encourage my colleagues to support the Pascrell amendment as well as the underlying bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, today, I am proud to introduce the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008, which was marked up and reported favorably by the Committee on Homeland Security on March 6, 2008. This bill will extend and strengthen the Department of Homeland Security's current authority to regulate security practices at our Nation's chemical facilities. This legislation must be enacted to ensure that there is no lapse in our efforts to protect the Nation's chemical infrastructure from the threat of terrorism. The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards regulations currently in effect will sunset in October 2009. The passage of this legislation is needed to update and improve those regulations and to make them permanent. Shielding the Nation's critical infrastructure from foreign and domestic terrorism is one of my eight goals in charting the course toward freedom from fear. As I see it, extending DHS's authority to regulate chemical security is the right thing to do, and this legislation does it the right way. For 4 months, the committee undertook a bipartisan effort to develop this legislation. There were extensive discussions with the Department, the chemical industry, including both large and small chemical manufacturers, fertilizer manufacturers, petroleum and propane manufacturers and distributors, water and wastewater facilities, environmental groups, labor organizations, State Governments, and academic and independent experts. The legislation I am introducing today with every Democratic Member of the Committee on Homeland Security is the product of this open, bipartisan process. Given this effort, where the ranking member of the full committee and Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection were involved in every aspect of this legislation, I was very disappointed that the Republican Members, with few exceptions, chose partisanship over progress and voted against the bill. The disagreement that was cited was over whether all regulated chemical facilities, or just a subset, should be required to assess whether or not they could incorporate practices to reduce the consequences of a terrorist attack in their processes. For the record, the bill requires only facilities assigned to a risk-based tier to undertake such an assessment. This is done to decrease the likelihood of a potential attack in the first place. That's just plain sensible. This legislation does not seek to reinvent the wheel, as the Democratic Members of this committee believe that the fundamental approach taken under the existing chemical security regulations is the correct one. At the same time, the bill seeks to make several improvements to the program after the sunset expires. For instance, the current chemical security regulations exempt water treatment facilities regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act and port facilities regulated under the Maritime Transportation Security Act. This bill does not have such an exemption and calls for the CFATS to work smoothly with the existing authorities. Testimony by the Department at previous hearings before this committee demonstrated that facilities with the exemption possess the same chemicals and are as proximate to major metropolitan areas as the currently regulated facilities. The testimony revealed there is no rational public policy reason to exempt them from the chemical security regime. The bill also recognizes that water facilities need to be treated differently than other facilities. That is why we included provisions to require that the Secretary must provide funding for those that are required to implement inherently safer technology, IST. The bill also bars the Secretary from issuing any order or guidance under these regulations that contravenes laws, such as the Safe Drinking Water Act, and restricts the Secretary from enforcing ``cease operations'' orders against water facilities unless their operation represents a clear and present danger to homeland security. The provisions are intended to ensure that this legislation will not cause water to be less safe for communities. The bill also protects the rights of States to pass their own regulations to secure chemical facilities so long as they do not directly conflict with this legislation; requires employee training and involvement of employees and their representatives in creating vulnerability assessments and security plans; creates strong whistleblower protections, and protects against illegitimate use of background checks. I know that once this bill leaves this committee, there will be an effort to weaken it. I hope, however, that Congress will not allow narrow interests to interfere with the national security imperative of securing our chemical sector from terrorists. Only through the comprehensive approach laid out in this bill will we address our Nation's current vulnerability to a massive chemical attack using our own infrastructure against us. Exempting some facilities will make us less safe because those facilities, by their exemption, could become more likely to be attacked. I hope that Congress will do the right thing to deliver to the American people freedom from fear of such a chemical attack by moving forward expeditiously to pass this legislation and make it law.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 971, Expressing the sympathies and support of the House of Representatives for the individuals and institutions affected by the powerful tornados that struck communities in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee on February 5th, 2008. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the families that have experienced the loss of loved ones caused by these tornados. This resolution is important, as it communicates to those affected that Congress is here to do all that it can to help rebuild and restore our damaged communities. While my district was not affected this time by the tornados on February 5, other communities throughout the State of Mississippi were. And as you know, my State has been no stranger to experiencing disasters. In fact, we are still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina and empathize with what the affected communities are experiencing. We know that after a disaster has occurred, the recovery and rebuilding effort of our communities takes time. And when Federal, State and local governments work efficiently and effectively to provide resources to our communities in a timely fashion, the rebuilding effort moves along more smoothly. As the chairman of the committee with oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, DHS, of which FEMA is a part, our committee works diligently to ensure that DHS is prepared to respond to all disasters-- whether they be natural disaster or acts of terrorism. As communities are working hard to recover from the damage caused by the tornados, the committee will closely monitor the responsiveness of FEMA and ensure that the communities affected will receive the assistance that they need to rebuild housing, public facilities and critical infrastructure. In closing, let me thank my colleague Representative Bart Gordon along with my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for their leadership on this resolution. It is our hope that the rebuilding effort will soon begin, communities will be repaired and that families will begin to heal and return to normalcy. I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution to recognize the life of senior Agent Luis Aguilar. The loss of Agent Aguilar not only leaves a big hole in the Border Patrol organization but in the lives of his family. I'd like to express again my sincere condolences and urge passage of this important resolution. Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 954, a resolution honoring the life and career of Senior Border Patrol Agent Luis A. Aguilar who on January 19, 2008 lost his life at the young age of 32 in the line of duty near Yuma, Arizona. A native of my district of El Paso, Texas, Agent Aguilar began his career with the United States Border Patrol on July 21, 2002 after attending the 519th Session of the Border Patrol Academy. Upon graduation, Agent Aguilar was assigned to the Yuma Border Patrol Sector in Arizona. On the day of Aguilar's tragic death, he was trying to deflate the tires of a Hummer being driven by a suspected narcotics smuggler who was attempting to flee back to Mexico across the Imperial Sand Dunes. The suspect accelerated while swerving and struck Agent Aguilar who was unable to move from the path of the vehicle. Injuries sustained by the impact caused the tragic loss of Agent Aguilar. Chief Border Patrol Agent Chief David V. Aguilar posthumously awarded Agent Aguilar the Border Patrol's Purple Cross. This medal is one of the highest honors bestowed on an agent and is awarded to those who have sustained life-threatening injuries or have been killed in the line of duty. I offer my deepest condolences to his wife, Erica and his children, Luis and Arianna. I would also like to ask that the House take a moment to morn the loss of Agent Aguilar's mother, Cecilia Silva, who just last week lost her fight with cancer. To his father, Luis Aguilar, your son was a hero in my eyes and the eyes of many across the nation. Agent Aguilar committed his life to his job, and his family showed immense courage in supporting him and his mission. As a former Border Patrol agent myself, I know firsthand the dangers that an agent faces while protecting America's frontlines. Aguilar's dedication to his nation should be acknowledged, and today I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Agent Aguilar for his service.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers at this time, and I am prepared to close if Mr. Davis is prepared, also.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 954, honoring senior Border Patrol agent Luis A. Aguilar, who lost his life in the line of duty near Yuma, Arizona, on January 19, 2008. I would also like to thank Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, for introducing this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, on January 19, 2008, Agent Aguilar was working with fellow Border Patrol agents to secure a suspected narcotics smuggler in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreational Area when he was struck and killed by the suspected smuggler's vehicle as it fled into Mexico. A native of El Paso, Texas, Agent Aguilar had been assigned to the Yuma Border Patrol station since joining the Border Patrol in July 2002. He was just 32 years old at the time of his death. Agent Aguilar is survived by his wife, Erica; his children, Luis and Arianna; his father, Luis Aguilar, Sr.; his sister, Angie; and his Border Patrol brother, senior Border Patrol agent, Marco Antonio Aguilar. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, Agent Aguilar's mother, Cecilia Silva, recently passed away after her son's tragic death. We're here to honor Agent Aguilar, a young man who's made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the sovereign borders of the United States and make America more secure. The mission of the U.S. Border Patrol is to control the nearly 6,000 miles of land border between ports of entry with Mexico and Canada, and the coastal waters around Florida and Puerto Rico. The death of Agent Aguilar serves as a stark reminder of the risks our front-line agents and officers face each day as they serve as the guardians of our Nation's land borders. As chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I've been to the southern border on a number of occasions. I've witnessed firsthand the dedication of the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol, often under difficult and dangerous conditions. They work long hours, often late into the night, in extreme heat and cold. Like Agent Aguilar, they are our Nation's last line of defense against would-be terrorists, drug traffickers and others who would seek to enter this Nation illegally. Agent Aguilar's contribution to our Nation's security deserves this recognition. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring senior Border Patrol Agent Luis Aguilar in his service to our Nation, and offer my deepest condolences to the family. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this resolution and include therein any extraneous material.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Thank you very much. I continue to reserve, Mr. Speaker. I have no other speakers.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 954) honoring the life of senior Border Patrol agent Luis A. Aguilar, who lost his life in the line of duty near Yuma, Arizona, on January 19, 2008, as amended.