Bennie Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize an African American pioneer, athlete Willye White. Willye B. White was born on December 31, 1939, in Money, Mississippi. She was raised by her grandparents in Greenville, Mississippi. White used athletics as her escape from working in the cotton fields for her grandparents. In high school, she spent summers training with famed track and field coach Ed Temple at Tennessee State University. By age 16, Willye White was on the 1956 U.S. Olympic Team competing in Melbourne, Australia, where she won a silver medal in the long jump. She was the first American woman to win a medal in that event. She won a second silver medal in 1964 as a member of the 4x100 meter relay team in Tokyo. Willye White competed on five U.S. Olympic teams consecutively from 1956-1972. White, a longtime Chicago-area resident, credited her experience as an athlete with allowing her to see beyond the racism and hatred that surrounded her as a child. She grew up before the civil rights movement, so before the Olympics, she thought that the whole world consisted of cross burnings and lynching. She reported to Sports illustrated magazine that, ``The Olympic movement taught me not to judge a person by the color of their skin but by the contents of their hearts,'' and that ``I am who I am because of my participation in sports.'' She was a member of more than 30 international track and field teams and won a dozen Amateur Athletic Union long jump titles in her career, according to USA Track & Field, which inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 1981. White was inducted into 11 sports halls of fame, including the Black Sports Hall of Fame, the National Sports Track and Field Hall of Fame, and the Women's Sports Foundation International Hall of Fame. In 1999, Sports Illustrated for Women named her one of the 100 greatest women athletes in the 20th century. After retiring from competitions, she dedicated her life to helping the underprivileged and less fortunate. She became a nurse and earned a degree in public health administration from Chicago State University. White coached, lectured and served as president of the Midwest chapter of the U.S. Olympians for 12 years. In 1991, she established the Willye White Foundation to help youth develop self-esteem and become productive citizens within the community. She also received her honorary Doctor of Humanity Degree from Springfield College in 1999. Willye White died on February 6, 2007, of pancreatic cancer at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Willye White was a pioneer for African Americans and women, by becoming the first American woman to win a gold medal in the long jump. She was a Philanthropist, who used her life experiences to help improve other's lives.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, in accordance with clause 2(a) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, I respectfully submit the rules of the Committee on Homeland Security for printing in the Congressional Record. The Committee on Homeland Security adopted these rules by voice vote, a quorum being present, at our organizational meeting on January 23, 2007. Committee on Homeland Security, Committee Rules, Adopted January 23, 2007 Rule L.--GENERAL PROVISIONS. (A) Applicability of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives.--The Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives (the ``House'') are the rules of the Committee on Homeland Security (the ``Committee'') and its subcommittees insofar as applicable. (B) Applicability to Subcommittees.--Except where the terms ``Full Committee'' and ``subcommittee'' are specifically mentioned, the following rules shall apply to the Committee's subcommittees and their respective Chairmen and Ranking Minority Members to the same extent as they apply to the Full Committee and its Chairman and Ranking Minority Member. (C) Appointments by the Chairman.--The Chairman shall designate a Member of the Majority party to serve as Vice Chairman of the Full Committee. The Vice Chairman of the Full Committee shall preside at any meeting or hearing of the Full Committee during the temporary absence of the Chairman. In the absence of both the Chairman and Vice Chairman, the Chairman's designee shall preside. (D) Recommendation of Conferees.--Whenever the Speaker of the House is to appoint a conference committee on a matter within the jurisdiction of the Full Committee, the Chairman shall recommend to the Speaker of the House conferees from the Full Committee. In making recommendations of Minority Members as conferees, the Chairman shall do so with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee. (E) Motions To Disagree.--The Chairman is directed to offer a motion under clause 1 of Rule XXII of the Rules of the House whenever the Chairman considers it appropriate. (F) Committee Website.--The Chairman shai1 maintain an official Committee web site for the purposes of furthering the Committee's legislative and oversight responsibilities, including communicating information about the Committee's activities to Committee Members, other Members and the public at large. The Ranking Minority Member may maintain a similar website for the same purposes. Rule II.--TIME OF MEETINGS (A) Regular Meeting Date.--The regular meeting date and time for the transaction of business of the Full Committee shall be on the first Wednesday that the House is in Session each month, unless otherwise directed by the Chairman. (B) Additional Meetings.--At the discretion of the Chairman, additional meetings of the Committee may be scheduled for the consideration of any bill or other matters pending before the Committee or to conduct other Committee business. The Committee shall meet for such purposes pursuant to the call of the Chairman. (C) Consideration.--Except in the case of a special meeting held under clause 2(c)(2) of House Rule XI, the determination of the business to be considered at each meeting of the Committee shall be made by the Chairman. Rule III.--NOTICE AND PUBLICATION (A) Notice.-- (1) Hearings.--The date, time, place and subject matter of any hearing of the Committee shall, except as provided in the Committee rules, be announced by notice at least one week in advance of the commencement of such hearing. The names of all witnesses scheduled to appear at such hearing shall be provided to Members no later than 48 hours prior to the commencement of such hearing. These notice requirements may be waived by the Chairman with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member. (2) Meetings.--The date, time, place and subject matter of any meeting, other than a hearing or a regularly scheduled meeting, shall be announced at least 36 hours in advance of a meeting to take place on a day the House is in session, and 72 hours in advance of a meeting to take place on a day the House is not in session, except in the case of a special meeting called under clause 2(c)(2) of House Rule XI. These notice requirements may be waived by the Chairman with the Concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member. (a) Copies of any measure to be considered for approval by the Committee at any meeting, including any mark, print or amendment in the of a substitute shall be provided to the Members at least 24 hours in advance. (b) The requirement in subsection (a) may be waived or abridged by the Chairman, with advance notice to the Ranking Minority Member. (3) Publication.--The meeting or hearing announcement shall be promptly published in the Daily Digest portion of the Congressional Record. To the greatest extent practicable, meeting announcements shall be entered into the Committee scheduling service of the House Information Resources. Rule IV.--OPEN MEETINGS AND HEARINGS; BROADCASTING (A) Open Meetings.--All meetings and hearings of the Committee shall be open to the public including to radio, television and still photography coverage, except as provided by Rule XI of the Rules of the House or when the Committee, in open session and with a Majority present, determines by recorded vote that all or part of the remainder of that hearing on that day shall be closed to the public because disclosure of testimony, evidence, or other matters to be considered would endanger the national security, compromise sensitive law enforcement information, tend to defame, degrade or incriminate a witness, or violate any law or role of the House of Representatives. (B) Broadcasting.--Whenever any hearing or meeting conducted by the Committee is open to the public, the Committee shall permit that hearing or meeting to be covered by television broadcast, internet broadcast, print media, and still photography, or by any of such methods of coverage. in accordance with the provisions of clause 4 of Rule XI of the Rules of the House. Operation and use of any Committee operated broadcast system shall be fair and nonpartisan and in accordance with clause 4(b) of Rule XI and all other applicable rules of the Committee and the House. Priority shall be given by the Committee to members of the Press Galleries. (C) Transcripts.--A transcript shall be made of the testimony of each witness appearing before the Committee during a Committee hearing. All transcripts of meetings or hearings that are open to the public shall be made available. Rule V.--PROCEDURES FOR MEETINGS AND HEARINGS (A) Opening Statements.--At any meeting of the Committee, the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member shall be entitled to present oral opening statements of five minutes each. Other Members may submit written opening statements for the record. The Chairman presiding over the meeting may permit additional opening statements by other Members of the Full Committee or of that subcommittee, with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member. (B) The Five-Minute Rule.--The time anyone Member may address the Committee on any bill, motion, or other matter under consideration by the Committee shall not exceed five minutes, and then only when the Member bas been recognized by the Chairman, except that this time limit may be extended when permitted by unanimous consent. (C) Postponement of Vote.--The Chairman may postpone further proceedings when a record vote is ordered on the question of approving any measure or matter or adopting an amendment. The Chairman may resume proceedings on a postponed vote at any time, provided that all reasonable steps have been taken to notify Members of the resumption of such proceedings. When proceedings resume on a postponed question, notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous question, an underlying proposition shall remain subject to further debate or amendment to the same extent as when the question was postponed. (D) Contempt Procedures.--No recommendation that a person cited for contempt of Congress shall be forwarded to the House unless and until the Full Committee has, upon notice to all its Members, met and considered the alleged contempt. The person to be cited for contempt shall be afforded, upon notice of at least 72 hours, an opportunity to state why he or she should not be held in contempt prior to a vote of the Full Committee, with a quorum being present, on the question whether to forward such recommendation to the House. Such statement shall be, in the discretion of the Chairman, either in writing or in person before the Full Committee. Rule VI.--WITNESSES (A) Questioning of Witnesses.-- (1) Questioning of witnesses by-Members will be conducted under the five-minute rule unless the Committee adopts a motion permitted by House Rule XI (2)(j)(2). (2) In questioning witnesses under the 5-minute rule, the Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member shall first be recognized. In a subcommittee meeting or hearing, the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Full Committee are then recognized. All other Members that arrive before the commencement of the meeting or hearing will be recognized in the order of seniority on the Committee, alternating between Majority and Minority Members. Committee Members arriving after the commencement of the hearing shall be recognized in order of appearance, alternating between Majority and Minority Members, after all Members present at the beginning of the hearing have been recognized. Each Member shall be recognized at least once before any Member is given a second opportunity to question a witness. (3) The Chairman, in consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, or the Committee by motion may permit an extension of the period of questioning of a witness beyond five minutes but the time allotted must be equally apportioned to the Majority party and the Minority and may not exceed one hour in the aggregate. (4) The Chairman, in consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, or the Committee by motion may permit Committee staff of the Majority and Minority to question a witness for a specified, total period that is equal for each side and not longer than 30 minutes for each side. (B) Minority Witnesses.--Whenever a hearing is conducted by the Committee upon any measure or matter, the Minority party Members on the Committee shall be entitled, upon request to the Chairman by a Majority of those Minority Members before the completion of such hearing, to call witnesses selected by the Minority to testify with respect to that measure or matter during at least one day of hearing thereon. (C) Oath or Affirmation.--The Chairman of the Committee or any Member designated by the Chairman, may administer an path to any witness. (D) Statements by Witnesses.-- (1) Consistent with the notice given, witnesses shall submit a prepared or written statement for the record of the proceedings (including, where practicable, an electronic copy) with the Clerk of the Committee no less than 48 hours in advance of the witness's appearance before the Committee. Unless the 48 hour requirement is waived or otherwise modified by the Chairman after consultation with the Ranking Minority Member, the failure to comply with this requirement may result in the exclusion of the written testimony from the hearing record and/or the baring of an oral presentation of the testimony. (2) To the greatest extent practicable, the written testimony of each witness appearing in a non-governmental capacity shall include a curriculum vitae and a disclosure of the amount and source (by agency and program) of any Federal grant (or thereof) or contract (or subcontract thereof) received during the current fiscal year or either of the two preceding fiscal years by the witness or by an entity represented by the witness to the extent that such information is relevant to the subject matter of, and the witness' representational capacity at, the hearing. Rule VII.--QUORUM Quorum Requirements.--Two Members shall constitute a quorum for purposes of taking testimony and receiving evidence. One- third of the Members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for conducting business, except for (1) reporting a measure or recommendation; (2) closing Committee meetings to the public, pursuant to Committee Rule IV; (3) authorizing the issuance of subpoenas; and (4) any other action for which actual majority quorum is required by any rule of the House of Representatives or by law. The Chairman shall make reasonable efforts, including consultation with the Ranking Minority Member when scheduling meetings and hearings, to ensure that a quorum for any purpose will include at least one minority Member of the Committee. Rule VIII.--DECORUM (A) Breaches of Decorum.--The Chairman may punish breaches of order and decorum, by censure and exclusion from the hearing; and the Committee may cite the offender to the House for contempt. (B) Access to Dais.--Access to the dais before, during and after a hearing, markup, or other meeting of the Committee shall be limited to Members and staff of the Committee. Subject to availability of space on the dais, a Member may have a personal staff present on the dais during periods when the Member is seated on the dais at the hearing. (C) Wireless Communications Use Prohibited.--During a hearing, markup, or other meeting of the Committee, ringing or audible sounds or conversational use of cellular telephones or other electronic devices is prohibited in the Committee room.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Langevin. Today I rise to support a bill that reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that safe and effective antiterrorism technologies are being deployed by the Department of Homeland Security. This bill, offered by my colleague Mr. Langevin, will provide much- needed reforms to the SAFETY Act process within the Department. In conducting oversight over the Department's implementation of the SAFETY Act over the last several years, it was apparent that there was several significant disconnections within the Department. It became clear that the Office of SAFETY Act Implementation and the private sector were working on separate wavelengths. The right hand simply was not speaking to the left. The private sector struggled to fulfill the lengthy paperwork requirements of the SAFETY Act, while the SAFETY Act office often seemed nonresponsive to private sector requests. While the Department's adoption of final regulations this summer implementing the SAFETY Act appears to be an encouraging step forward, still more must be done to ensure that the government is being responsive to developments in the private sector. This bill would require that the Secretary employ a sufficient number of analysts in the Office of SAFETY Act Implementation who can deal with the ever-growing number of applications. This will ensure that applications are being processed in a timely fashion to bring more technologies to the table earlier than ever. Perhaps more importantly, this bill will also ensure the proper coordination between the Department's procurement and implementing offices and raise the awareness of SAFETY Act risk management provisions among procurement officers across Federal, State and local government, and throughout the private sector. In order to generate revolutionary breakthroughs in antiterrorism technologies, the Department must actively promote awareness of SAFETY Act protections not only among private sector, but across government procurement agencies. This legislation will help achieve those goals. I congratulate Mr. Langevin for offering this legislation and strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill. We must enable the private sector to deliver the revolutionary, breakthrough technologies that will help win the Nation's fight against terrorism.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

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

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, because her time was accidentally cut off earlier, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I have one speaker, and I will be prepared to close after that.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of the time. First of all, I would like to set a couple of things straight for the record. For my ranking member, these 9/11 recommendations are not cheap political tricks; they are very serious and things that we all take very seriously because of that. With respect to the 100 percent port cargo screening, it says take the lessons learned from the pilots and then implement what you learned from the pilots, not go forward, like you say. You talk about not bringing bills before the committee. You brought a fence bill straight to the floor without going through a subcommittee or a committee. So I might say to my colleague, I look forward to working with him over the next 2 years on making sure that we keep America safe from bad people, but also that we are able to respond to natural disasters and other things. Mr. Speaker, it is fitting and proper that this bill, the first bill voted upon by the new Congress, gets the record straight on the 9/11 Commission's report. We finished the job. Yesterday, former Vice Chair Lee Hamilton of the 9/11 Commission made it very clear why we are here today. He said in his view, ``The terrorists are plotting today on how best to strike the United States. They will not wait, and it has been a source of very considerable frustration to the members of the 9/11 Commission that so many of our recommendations, which really are commonsense recommendations, like the ability of the first responders to communicate with one another, the allocation of funds on the basis of risk and not politics, and many other recommendations, are simply common sense. It has puzzled us and frustrated us that they have not been enacted into law.'' Let us be very clear, Mr. Speaker, today's bill fixes these problems and fulfills many of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations. In short, as 9/11 Vice Chair Lee Hamilton said yesterday, if this bill is enacted, funded and implemented, the American people will be safer. I urge support of the bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity to make reference to the fact that H.R. 1 includes provisions in which the Judiciary Committee has a jurisdictional interest. Specifically, I am speaking of provisions that touch on the following aspects of the bill: the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center, the Fusion and Law Enforcement Education and Teaming Grant Program, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and the treatment of detainees. I appreciate the assistance of my colleague from Michigan, Mr. Conyers, in assuring the expedited consideration of this important legislation on the House floor, given his Committee's jurisdictional interest in the legislation. While it is important to note that I do not control the entire process, as there are other House Committees involved and the Senate will likely have its own positions on a variety of these issues, I am glad to work with the gentleman from Michigan and other Members of the Judiciary Committee as this legislation moves forward.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, the 9/11 Commission produced an unprecedented, bipartisan evaluation of how terrorists were able to exploit our nation's security on September 11, 2001. The Commissioners made 41 valuable recommendations on how to prevent such an attack from occurring again. Unfortunately, not all of those recommendations were fulfilled by Congress and the Bush Administration. As a result, the American people remain at-risk, and our nation remains unprepared for a major emergency. When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita slammed into the Gulf Coast, we were reminded again of how unprepared we still are to deal with national disasters--whether caused by nature or a terrorist attack. The ``Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007,'' which I am introducing today, will make the United States more secure by closing many of the security gaps that continue to expose our nation to the risk of a terrorist attack. Enactment of this legislation will make it more difficult for terrorists to obtain nuclear materials, ensure that first responders finally have the equipment they need to respond to a disaster, airplanes will be more secure, our borders will be harder for terrorists to penetrate, our police and other local law enforcement will finally get the information they need about terrorist threats, and ports and other critical infrastructure will be made more secure. Perhaps most importantly, this bill makes these improvements in security without endangering our American way of life because it puts in place strong new privacy and civil liberties protections. Specifically, this bill provides much-needed support to the first responders at the State, local, and tribal levels who bear the brunt of the emergency response and preparedness burden. The 9-11 Commission recommended that homeland security funds designed to improve emergency preparedness be allocated based on risk, and that steps be taken to provide first responders with communications systems that are fully interoperable in an emergency. This bill fulfills these recommendations by providing for risk-based evaluation and prioritization of homeland security grants and enhanced accountability for grant distribution and use, so that federal aid will go where it is most needed. Moreover, it creates a stand-alone grant program to help States, local and tribal governments erect the interoperable communications systems that are so vital to effective emergency response. It also encourages the use of a unified command during an emergency, so that Federal officials work more closely with State, local, and tribal governments in preparation and response efforts. The 9/11 Commission found that many Federal agencies had information that could have led to the arrest and capture of the September 11th hijackers, but that this information did not reach the Federal, State, and local officials who could have acted on it. This bill acts on the 9/11 Commission's recommendation to improve intelligence and information sharing between Federal authorities and their State and local counterparts. First, it establishes the Fusion and Law Enforcement Education and Training (FLEET) Grant Program to strengthen the capabilities of local fusion centers and to foster cooperation among State and local law enforcement officers. It also establishes the Border Intelligence Fusion Center Program, which will put experienced Federal border security personnel to fusion centers in border States to enhance collaboration. Additionally, it provides more State and local law enforcement officers with the opportunity to gain valuable experience working in Washington with Department of Homeland Security officials. Finally, it ensures the Department itself has the technology and organization needed to facilitate intelligence and information sharing. Our nation's aviation system, which was easily exploited by the September 11th hijackers, will also be made more secure through this bill. The 9/11 Commission found that more steps need to be taken to secure air cargo and checked baggage and to ensure airport checkpoints have the equipment necessary to detect explosives. This bill meets those concerns. First, it requires TSA to develop a system so that 100 percent of air cargo carried on passenger aircraft is inspected by 2009. Second, it provides for an additional billion dollars to be made available over the next four years to put modern baggage screening systems in place. It also creates an innovative new $250 million trust fund to address the risk of suicide bombers at the checkpoint by strengthening explosive detection at the checkpoint. The Department will also have to explain how it plans to undertake efforts to prescreen passenger names against terrorist watch lists, a task the airlines are still charged with doing over five years after 9/11. At the same time, a new, streamlined system will be put in place for innocent people to establish their identities and prevent them from being misidentified against ``No Fly'' or ``Selectee'' lists. One of the most frightening aspects of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93 is that the planes all took off from domestic airports, meaning that each of the hijackers was already in the United States. In response to these disconcerting facts, this bill strengthens accountability for plans to implement biometric verification of foreign nationals entering and exiting the United States, as well as improved integration of the Visa Security and Terrorist Travel Programs. Moreover, this measure authorizes badly needed support and personnel for the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center, in order to enhance its ability to combat human smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorist travel. In addition to addressing domestic homeland security gaps, this bill also contains multiple provisions that deal with security concerns outside the United States. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, we have become increasingly aware of the growing threat posed by terrorists with access to nuclear materials and other weapons of mass destruction. This bill takes up those concerns by providing some of the building blocks needed to mitigate the international aspects of terrorism. This bill complements existing laws and provides resources to encourage international cooperation to stem proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It also addresses the terrorism implications of the nuclear black market, and mandates that U.S. foreign assistance and arms sales be withdrawn from countries that condone or engage in nuclear proliferation networks. Another way that this bill protects against the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction is to strengthen security procedures for cargo entering the United States from foreign ports. Building upon the recently enacted SAFE Ports Act, this bill requires all cargo containers to be scanned before they reach U.S. ports within five years, and requires port security personnel to use the best technology available in scanning containers for radiation and density. While it addresses a number of security concerns, this bill would also strengthen protection of privacy rights and civil liberties. Although it was created in 2004 on the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board has been little more than a shell that has failed to live up to its promise and protect the basic freedoms of Americans. This bill would take three key steps toward making the Board a legitimate force of accountability and transparency in the federal government. First, it would remove the Board from the Executive Office of the President, making it an independent and autonomous body. Second, this bill would require all Board members to be confirmed by the Senate, which will minimize political influence by the President and other executive officials whose actions it oversees. Finally, this bill would empower the Board as the Chief Privacy Officer with the authority to subpoena witnesses and evidence, a key investigative tool that would greatly strengthen the Board's ability to uncover questionable or unlawful action. The best way to honor those who lost their lives because of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 is to make sure that kind of attack never happens again. Similarly, there must be a stronger commitment to giving first responders and communities the resources they need to respond quickly and vigorously to terrorist attacks and significant natural disasters. The 9/11 Commission did an exemplary job of locating weaknesses and making recommendations for strengthening homeland security. Now it falls to us, the U.S. Congress, to follow through on those recommendations. The 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007 is a critical step in fulfilling that mission, and I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in supporting it.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5782--the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2006. I want to thank Chairman Young and Ranking Member Oberstar and my other colleagues, who brought this vital and important bill to the floor today. Pipeline security has gone under the radar in recent years--but there are critical issues which must be addressed. This bill addresses many of these problems. This bill strengthens the ``one-call notification system'' which allows private citizens and the constructIon industry to quickly and easily notify utilities and pipeline owners of excavation. The one-call notification system is vital to protecting these key resources and critical infrastructure from third-party damage. Unfortunately, third parties are the number one cause of pipeline damage--disrupting the economy and putting many in harms way. These occurrences can easily be prevented and this bill helps do just that. This bill subjects anyone who does not comply with this system to stiff action and penalties. This bill establishes a State Damage Prevention Program--which is a program which aims to prevent damage to underground infrastructure. This program will be based at the state level and this bill provides for a state grant program managed by the Department of Transportation. This bill improves the management of pipeline infrastructure by mandating the recommendations set forth by the NTSB--the National Transportation Safety Board. The bill will also improve pipeline security by assessing risk associated with human error and reducing damage from these issues by specifically providing for training and simulation exercises. On the technology side, this bill will improve on leak detection technology and monitoring alarms which will improve safety around hazardous materials and the pipelines which carry them. This bill also takes into account environmentally sensitive areas. It mandates new standards for pipelines in these areas which will aim to limit or prevent accidents in these susceptible and crucial areas. This bill also aims to assess and prevent possible gasoline shortages and price spikes by assessing how future pipeline capacity shortages might impact the price of gas at the pump. And finally and most importantly, this bill provides for proper communications between the Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security to ensure reliability for these important and critical assets.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Las Vegas (Ms. Berkley).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the ranking member from Energy and Commerce. (Mr. DINGELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. I have four.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Lungren for the accurate recap of the early parts of the act. But like most early parts of the act, people forget how it ends; and what I am saying to you is, while bipartisanship might be good, the process is incomplete. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman), one of original authors of the bill. (Ms. HARMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), one of the conferees on this particular bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the ranking member on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. (Mr. OBERSTAR asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my chairman that the motion to instruct said to include rail and mass transit to the conferees. That is in response to your response to the gentlewoman from Las Vegas. We more or less said ``do it'' from the House perspective, and it wasn't done.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez), ranking member on the subcommittee with responsibility for ports.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, once again we are here on the floor debating another security bill that will not fully secure America. This bill does a lot to strengthen port security, but it leaves a number of glaring gaps. I want to thank Ms. Sanchez and Ms. Harman. They are the chief architects of the best ideas in this bill. They have been true champions on port security since the early days of this committee. I want to thank Mr. Lungren and Mr. King for working with us on this bill on a bipartisan basis, although I was very disappointed that this process broke down in the last few days. Additionally, Homeland Security staff on both sides of the aisle made sure the process was an inclusive one. We heard positive insight from industry, first responders, port security experts. I appreciate all of them for their help. But despite all our efforts, at the end of the day this measure falls short. Once again House Republicans have turned their back on everyday working folks who rely on buses and trains to get to work. When offered an opportunity by the Senate to secure our mass transit and rail security, they chose to do nothing. Quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, this port bill has become just another act in the play the House Republicans have billed as ``homeland security'' month. They could have offered America a star performance, and instead, Mr. Speaker, they delivered mediocrity. Let me serve as a narrator of this story for a few moments: Act one, protecting ponies. The week before the fifth anniversary of 9/11, the House leadership was more concerned about protecting horses than protecting our ports. Act two, border security. Thinking good fences make good neighbors, they squandered the little time we had left in this session to revote a fence bill. As the Senate passes the fence bill tonight, Americans should feel safe in their homes. America will have a 700-mile fence across the U.S.-Mexico border. Well, Mr. Speaker, not really. The appropriations bill we passed today paid for barely half of that fence. I am sure terrorists and others crossing the border are quivering in their boots at this half- baked half fence. Let us move to act three, FEMA. The Committee on Homeland Security tried to fix FEMA and give first responders the interoperability they needed. Instead of fully funding the reorganization, Republicans chose to do ``FEMA on the cheap,'' leaving our police, firefighters, and EMTs without the ability to talk to one another. And here we are at this late hour beginning act four, the closing act in this political comedy, port security. H.R. 4954, as passed by the House, was a good bill overall. The Senate improved upon the bill by, among other things, addressing rail and mass transit security. Unfortunately, this sham conference process denied consideration of the Senate ideas as well as Democratic amendments to better protect our Nation. And that, after this body overwhelmingly approved my motion to instruct the conferees to accept the Senate position on rail and mass transit security, the conference Chair denied the will of this body. Why do not the Republicans want to eliminate this critical vulnerability now? We have the time. So why not now? The American people would much rather see this body work through the night to get homeland security right than go home to run for reelections. Instead of calling this month Homeland Security Month, we should rename it Amateur Hour Month, because that is all we have seen from this Congress. While I have enormous issues with the process and the scope of this bill, Mr. Speaker, I still intend to vote for it. I make this pledge. In the next Congress, we will absolutely be back here to finish the job and get homeland security right. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule on H.R. 4954, the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006. This rule is furtherance of a process that can be summed up in two words--a joke. After weeks of negotiations, Republicans refused to share the final conference report on legislation that was supposed to be bipartisan. Indeed, this is legislation that builds on what my colleague Loretta Sanchez did last Congress and that Jane Harman took up this Congress. Last night at 7:30, a conference report meeting was called and it was missing the key ingredient--a conference report. After opening statements, Chairman Peter King closed the meeting, telling us it was his intention ``that amendments would be offered.'' And, at 11:30 last night, we finally received the report with a very clear P.S. from Mr. King--there would be no amendments offered. His actions contradicted the will of this House, which voted yesterday 281-140 to instruct conferees to consider specific issues that the amendments to be offered would have covered. Now, the Committee on Homeland Security has been a bipartisan committee to date. These questionable processes undermine our homeland security efforts--all in the name of politics. I know the elections are important to my colleagues across the aisle but they should not take precedent over America's homeland security efforts. Adding even more insult to the process, the Republicans have attached internet gambling to the port security bill. Now, Mr. Speaker, I ask someone to explain to me how prohibiting internet gambling is more important to our homeland security than making our trains, subways, and buses safe? You will hear excuses about why we can't do mass transit and rail security and that we will ``take it up soon.'' When? Madrid happened in 2004. London happened in 2005. Mumbai happened only a few months ago. Are we waiting for New York City's Long Island Railroad to be attacked to pass sensible security for trains? If so, at least we'll have comfort in knowing that Americans can't bet on the Superbowl online. Now, I have signed on to the conference report because there are good things, but they aren't enough. Frankly, this body can and should do better. We need to put America's security first and foremost before politics. I urge all Members to oppose the rule. The material previously referred to by Mr. Hastings of Florida is as follows: Previous Question for Rule on Conference Report for H.R. 4954--``SAFE'' Port Act Strike all after the resolved clause and insert: ``That upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 4954) To improve maritime and cargo security through enhanced layered defenses, and for other purposes. All points of order against the conference report and against its consideration are waived. The conference report shall be considered as read. Sec. 2. (a) A concurrent resolution specified in subsection (b) is hereby adopted. (b) The concurrent resolution referred to in subsection (a) is a concurrent resolution (1) which has no preamble; (2) the title of which is as follows: ``Providing for Corrections to the Enrollment of the Conference Report on the bill H.R. 4954''; and (3) the text of which is as follows: ``That, in the enrollment of the bill H.R. 4954 entitled'' An Act to improve maritime and cargo security through enhanced layered defenses, and for other purposes', the Clerk of the House of Representatives is hereby authorized and directed to make the following corrections: ``(1) Insert title V of the Senate amendment to the bill (relating to the Rail Security Act of 2006). ``(2) Insert title VII of the Senate amendment to the bill (relating to mass transit security). ``(3) Insert title IX of the Senate amendment to the bill (relating to improved motor carrier, bus, and hazardous material security). ``(4) Insert the following sections of title XI of the Senate amendment to the bill: ``(A) Section 1101 (relating to certain TSA personnel limitations not to apply). ``(B) Section 1102 (relating to the Rural Policing Institute). ``(C) Section 1103 (relating to evacuation in emergencies).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This motion to recommit with instructions is clearly intended to make the bill better. We clearly have rail and safety issues still outstanding. What I have tried to prepare for Congress is an opportunity to get it right. Piecemealing is not the way to go. We absolutely can fix it right here, right now with this motion to instruct. If we do it, we can all go home feeling that America will be safer. If we don't, we leave substantial work yet to be done. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.