Rep. Robert B. Aderholt Holds a Hearing On the Fiscal Year 2012 Department of Homeland Security Budget
Political Transcript Wire › March 07, 2011
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Rep. Robert B. Aderholt Holds a Hearing On the Fiscal Year 2012 Department of Homeland Security Budget
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, SUBCOMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY HOLDS A HEARING ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2012 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BUDGET
MARCH 2, 2011SPEAKERS: REP. ROBERT B. ADERHOLT, R-ALA. CHAIRMAN REP. JOHN CARTER, R-TEXAS REP. JOHN CULBERSON, R-TEXAS REP. RODNEY FRELINGHUYSEN, R-N.J. REP. TOM LATHAM, R-IOWA REP. ANDER CRENSHAW, R-FLA. REP. CHARLIE DENT, R-PA. REP. HAROLD ROGERS, R-KY. EX OFFICIOREP. DAVID E. PRICE, D-N.C. RANKING MEMBER REP. NITA M. LOWEY, D-N.Y. REP. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD, D-CALIF. REP. JOHN W. OLVER, D-MASS. REP. NORM DICKS, D-WASH. EX OFFICIOWITNESSES: SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY JANET NAPOLITANO[*] ADERHOLT: First I'd like to welcome everyone to our first scheduled hearing for the year. It's an honor for me to chair this subcommittee and also to welcome some new members to the subcommittee who are still I think making their way in. I think, Mr. Dent, you're here. Thank you for being here, and welcome to the subcommittee.Today we welcome Secretary Napolitano to what makes her third appearance before the subcommittee. Madam Secretary, we thank you for being here and I look forward to hearing your testimony as part of the president's F.Y.1'2 budget request for the Department of Homeland Security.Madam Secretary, as you know, the threats facing our country have never been as persistent and as diverse as they are today. In fact, recently you testified before the Senate that in some ways the threat facing us is at its most heightened state since the 9/11 attacks.This past year we have seen intensified terrorist activity, including new threats to aviation and several home-grown plots. Furthermore, the cartel-fueled violence in Mexico continues to cast a lengthy shadow over the southwest border and even claimed the life of an ICE agent two weeks ago. And certainly our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Special Agent Zapata.In light of such challenges, the importance of the department's work cannot be overemphasized. This is especially true as we approach the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks later this year. That is precisely why H.R. 1, the full-year continuing resolution passed by the House just a week-and-a-half ago fully funds all frontline operation and essential personnel, including border patrol agents, ICE agents, Coast Guard personnel, intelligence officers and other key employees. In fact, the funds provided in H.R. 1 combined with F.Y. '10 supplemental funds enabled the Department of Homeland Security to actually increase the number of border patrol agents beyond the minimum 20,500 agents to reach the target of 21,370 agents by the end of F.Y. '11. As we work to enact a responsible F.Y. '11 appropriation for Department of Homeland Security, we are mindful both of our critical national security needs and our government's mounting fiscal crisis. Even in the name of security, we can no longer afford to simply throw money at programs without tan...See the full content of this document
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