Homeland Security Bill Minus the Security

Via email:

On the House floor today is the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act (H.R. 1684), a bill that was unanimously approved by the Homeland Security Committee in March. Unfortunately, Democrats will try to prevent Members from having the opportunity to debate the bipartisan bill as it was approved. Instead, they plan to strip out critical bipartisan security protections. For example, Democrats are:

Eliminating funding for employee immigration checks at high risk sites, like airports and nuclear power plants.

Preventing first responder grants from being used for training and exercises so they can be effective in an emergency.

Stripping out funds aimed at protecting America ’s food supply from attack.

Gutting funds for a mobile bio-metric identification system for illegal aliens captured at sea.
Keeping the revolving door open, allowing DHS officials to lobby their former colleagues immediately after they leave the department.

Just as troubling, the plan strikes language implementing a critical 9/11 Commission recommendation, which reads:

“Congress should create a single, principal point of oversight and review for homeland security. There should be one permanent standing committee for homeland security in each chamber.”

Remember, Congressional Democrats routinely pledged to implement “all” of the 9/11 Commission recommendations, despite repeatedly voting against bills implementing those same recommendations (see here, here, and here) in the 109th Congress.

Does this sound like a party that’s serious about homeland security?