Providing amounts for interim expenses of the Committee on Homeland Security in the first session of the One Hundred Ninth Congress.

Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) to explain the purpose of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, further reserving my right to object, I want to take a moment to both thank and applaud the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) for his diligence in determining the need for and pursuing the necessary funding for the authority for the new Committee of Homeland Security.

I think he has described amply the need and the necessity under which the circumstances arose and why this resolution is so important.

Third, I wanted to just take a brief moment to reflect on the extraordinary efforts of the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) and the former ranking minority member, Jim Turner, who is no longer with us, who took a skeletal concept of a committee and have turned it into a robust working reality.

I would like to extend my own deep sense of appreciation to former representative Jim Turner for his extraordinary leadership and contributions on national security issues and, in particular, homeland security during the 108th Congress.

As the first ranking member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, he vigorously pursued oversight

and legislation to enhance the security of the American people. His diligent and purposeful efforts have prompted the leadership of our country to move faster with a strong and smart sense of purpose to preserve and protect the security of our Nation.

During the first 2 years of the Select Committee on Homeland Security's existence, his work resulted in a number of significant initiatives and related efforts that we pause and honor today. In particular, in April of last year former Representative Turner released a 90-page comprehensive plan to eliminate the threat of al Qaeda to the United States. The report, which includes over a hundred specific recommendations, sets forth a strategy to win the current war against al Qaeda and like-minded groups. Produced with the assistance of Democratic leadership and other committees, winning the war on terror reaffirms the commitment and need to prevail in the U.S. struggle against terrorism.

The comprehensive plan played a large role in the introduction later in the 108th Congress of winning the War on Terror Act, H.R. 5291, designed to implement a series of initiatives and defeat terrorists and enemies.

Mr. Turner's accomplishments and what he was able to do in conjunction with the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) serve as a standard for the way that committees should proceed in this area. I cannot commend him enough and will present further accolades attesting to the attributes of Mr. Turner and the outstanding job he did on behalf of the State of Texas and this great country of ours. His service was exemplary, and I think this body owes him a great deal of gratitude for the performance that he undertook, along with the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) on this committee, and to see this committee today come to fruition as a full standing committee I think is a tribute to both of their hard work and zeal.

The gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) will continue on. Mr. Turner, of course, is no longer in this body but will long be remembered for his diligent effort, his straightforward manner, his gentleman-like way that he dealt with both sides of the issue and the manner in which he was able to bring these very important issues to the floor of this House to proceed in protecting this great Nation of ours from threat, from dangers abroad and here at home.

Mr. Speaker, I want to say three things. First, I want to thank Chairman Ney for his diligence in determining the need for, and in pursuing the necessary funding authority for the new Committee on Homeland Security.

Second, as the original co-sponsor of this resolution with Chairman Ney, I want to take a moment to ensure that Members understand its purpose. Although House rule X provides temporary interim funding for committees which existed in the 108th Congress, and which the House rules have recreated in the 109th Congress, this temporary interim funding provision only applies to committees which succeed themselves in the new Congress. The former Select Committee on Homeland Security no longer exists, and the House rules have created a new, permanent standing Committee on Homeland Security to take its place. Because of this change, and in the absence of this resolution, the new Committee on Homeland Security would not have resources to operate until the House adopts the Omnibus Committee Funding Resolution sometime in March.

By adopting the resolution, the House puts the new select committee on essentially the same temporary funding basis as other committees.

Third, I want to take a moment to reflect on the extraordinary efforts of Chairman Cox, and Ranking Minority Member Jim Turner, who took the skeletal concept of a committee, and turned it into a robust, working reality.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my own deep sense of appreciation to Representative Jim Turner for his extraordinary leadership and contributions on national security issues and, in particular, homeland security during the 108th Congress. As the first ranking member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, he vigorously pursued oversight and legislation to enhance the security of the American people. His diligent and purposeful efforts have prompted the leadership of our country to move faster, with a strong and smart sense of purpose, to preserve and protect the security of our nation. During the first 2 years of the Homeland Security Committee's existence, his work resulted in a number of significant initiatives and related efforts that I honor today. In particular:

In April of last year, Representative Turner released a 90-page comprehensive plan to eliminate the threat of al-Qaeda to the United States. The report, which includes over 100 specific recommendations, sets forth a strategy to win the current war against al-Qaeda and like- minded groups. Produced with the assistance of the Democratic leadership of other committees, Winning the War on Terror reaffirms the commitment needed to prevail in the U.S. struggle against terrorism. The comprehensive plan played a large role in the introduction later in the 108th Congress of the Winning the War on Terror Act, H.R. 5291, designed to implement a series of initiatives to defeat our terrorist enemies.

In February, 2004, Representative Turner, in concert with his Democratic colleagues on the Select Committee on Homeland Security, released a comprehensive report, entitled America at Risk: Closing the Security Gap, identifying the significant security gaps that continued to remain across the United States more than 2 years after the attacks of September 11. The comprehensive 135-page report identifies shortcomings in our homeland security efforts and recommends specific actions to ensure America is as safe as it needs to be from terrorist attack. An additional six oversight reports were subsequently issued on specific homeland security topics.

In September 2004, Representative Turner released a comprehensive 130-page report, entitled Transforming the Southern Border: Providing Security and Prosperity in the Post-9/11 World, calling for the transformation of the U.S. Southern Border to enhance security and promote economic prosperity. The result of a 6-month oversight effort, which included visits to multiple U.S. border communities, the report highlights the many security gaps that exist on the southern border and offers policy recommendations to close them. The comprehensive report was followed later in the 108th Congress with the introduction of the Secure Borders Act, H.R. 5130, to strengthen U.S. border security.

In addition to these efforts, Representative Turner, either alone or in concert with his Democratic colleagues, sponsored 12 homeland security legislative initiatives during the 108th Congress. Among other subjects, Representative Turner's efforts resulted in the introduction of the Prepare Act (H.R. 3158), containing unprecedented proposals to reform the U.S. first responder grant system by determining--for the first time--the essential capabilities needed to protect American communities; and the Rapid Cures Act (H.R. 4258), designed to develop a national plan to develop countermeasures to protect Americans against the threat of bioterrorism.

Mr. Speaker, these are only a few examples of the extraordinary contributions made by Representative Turner to our national homeland security effort. His leadership within the Democratic Caucus, and as a Member of the House on national security matters, has set a heightened standard for all of us to emulate. On the day that we create the first- ever permanent Committee on Homeland Security, it is fitting that we remember and honor the service and dedication of Representative Jim Turner.

Mr. Speaker, needless to say, as an original co-sponsor of this temporary funding resolution for the new Committee on Homeland Security, I urge each of my colleagues to support our country's continuing efforts to fight terrorism by voting in favor of this resolution.

I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 133) providing amounts from the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives for continuing expenses of standing and select committees of the House from April 1, 2005, through April 30, 2005, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 133. It is a pleasure to be here today with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt); and I also want to mention our ranking member, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald). As we go through the process here, it is going to be a privilege and a pleasure to work with her and all the Democrats and Republicans on the committee to provide for the funding resolution.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of House Resolution 133, which provides interim funding for the standing select committees of the House from April 1, 2005, through April 30, 2005. The rules of the House provide interim funding for committees until March 31 of 2005. This resolution will extend that funding for an additional month, thereby allowing the Committee on House Administration the time needed to put together the committee funding resolution that will, once passed, fund the committees for the duration of the 109th Congress.

This is nothing unusual. We have done this in the past. The committee chairmen and ranking members will appear Thursday of this week and the following Wednesday to present their budget requests to the committee, and that will be all the committee Chairs.

As the House will be out of session for the final 2 weeks of March for the Easter district work period, floor consideration of the committee funding resolution really will not be practical or possible, therefore, before March 31; and, therefore, it necessitates passage of this interim funding resolution. That is why we are here today. I therefore urge my colleagues to support resolution 133; it is needed.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for supporting this resolution today and also look forward to working with the Congresswoman and ranking member.

When the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) chaired the Committee on House Administration, he pushed towards the one-third and always provided one-third at that time to the ranking member, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer). We have kept in that tradition, together with the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) and also with the current ranking member, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender- McDonald). I am very happy to say that last session, with the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson), we achieved the two-thirds/one-third, and we need to continue to do that. And I think that is the only fair way, and we need to evaluate how the two-thirds and one-third is split.

Again, with the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson), we did that. It was a great achievement that was started by the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas).

As far as the issue of the committees, although I do not see any abuse that has occurred, as far as retooling the rules and regs of the House, we are always willing to sit and talk about that.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I join the distinguished gentleman from Ohio in supporting House Resolution 133, providing interim funding for standing and select committees of the House through April 30, 2005.

As most chairmen and ranking members know, funding for House committees would expire March 31 without this resolution.

I would like to thank the chairman for ensuring the committees will have the resources to continue operating while the Committee on House Administration processes their funding requests for the 109th Congress.

President Woodrow Wilson from my home State of New Jersey said it well when he said here on the floor, ``Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work.''

Yes, we have to keep the committees going, and I support the chairman in this effort. The Committee on House Administration's ranking member, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald), who is returning from her district, has asked me to stand in for her and asked me to specifically relay that she is looking forward to working with the chairman on hearings this week and next week. She is especially keen to ensure that in this Congress committee minorities will receive at least one-third of all committee resources.

Now, I, speaking as a member of the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, which is commonly known as the Franking Commission, am concerned about problems with the increased abuse of the frank by one or more committee chairs for blatantly, I would have to say, blatantly political purposes. And I am hopeful that the Committee on House Administration will address this issue through the upcoming Committee Funding Resolution and take appropriate action to stop any such abuses.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would say many Americans wonder why the resources for the committees are not divided one-half/one-half. Well, they should understand that it is traditional, now that the majority party would have most of the committee staff, most of the committee resources, and so two-thirds/one-third division has become traditional and that is what the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) is hoping to achieve. I thank the chairman for his consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 10) and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) for yielding to me.

I rise today in support of the resolution to provide interim funding for the Committee on Homeland Security in the first session of the 109th Congress. The Committee on Homeland Security was not established as a permanent committee until this Congress. It was a select committee previously. Therefore, they did not fall under the House rules providing interim funding for other committees. We have a series of interim funding for our existing committees.

This resolution will provide the necessary funds for the committee to continue its work from January 3 through March 31. The committee will then receive funding, we hope, for the duration of the 109th Congress; and that is when we will attempt by that time to bring out a permanent funding resolution for all committees so it would then receive its funding for the duration of the 109th Congress, all the public committees of the House.

Once the committee funding resolution is adopted, then the system will go back to its regular order. I ask support for this legislation.

(Mr. LARSON of Connecticut asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Connecticut, our ranking member, for supporting the resolution and also agree with his good and kind words about Mr. Turner.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 10.