Recognizing and honoring the employees of the Department of Homeland Security on its sixth anniversary for their continuous efforts to keep the Nation safe.

Madam Speaker, from February 3, 2009, to March 4, 2009, I missed Roll Call votes 47-96. Unfortunately, I underwent a surgical procedure and was in California recuperating. Had I been here, I would have voted the following:

Roll Call Vote 47: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 82, raising awareness and encouraging prevention of stalking by establishing January 2009 as National Stalking Awareness Month;

Roll Call Vote 48: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 103, supporting the goals and ideals of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week;

Roll Call Vote 49: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 559, The Fair, Accurate, Secure, and Timely (FAST) Redress Act of 2009;

Roll Call Vote 50: No on the motion to concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009;

Roll Call Vote 51: Yes on the motion to commit with instructions S. 352, the DTV Delay Act;

Roll Call Vote 52: No on passage of S. 352, the DTV Delay Act;

Roll Call Vote 53: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 738, the Death in Custody Reporting Act;

Roll Call Vote 54: Yes on the motion to instruct conferees on H. R. 1, Making Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year Ending 2009;

Roll Call Vote 55: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 114, Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National Girls and Women in Sports Day;

Roll Call Vote 56: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 60, Recognizing and commending University of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford for winning the 2008 Heisman Trophy and for his academic and athletic accomplishments;

Roll Call Vote 57: No on the motion to table H. Res. 143, Raising a Question of the Privileges of the House;

Roll Call Vote 58: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 128, Honoring Miami University for its 200 years of commitment to extraordinary higher education;

Roll Call Vote 59: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 134, Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s visit to India and the positive influence that the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi had on Dr. King's work during the Civil Rights Movement;

Roll Call Vote 60: No on agreeing to H. Con. Res. 47, Providing for an adjournment or recess of the two Houses;

Roll Call Vote 61: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 154, Honoring John D. Dingell for holding the record as the longest serving member of the House of Representatives;

Roll Call Vote 62: No on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 448, the Elder Abuse Victims Act;

Roll Call Vote 63: No on the motion to agree to H. Res. 157, providing for the consideration of motions to suspend the rules, and for other purposes;

Roll Call Vote 64: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 117, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Engineers Week;

Roll Call Vote 65: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 35, Honoring and praising the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 100th anniversary;

Roll Call Vote 66: No on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 168, providing for consideration of the conference report to H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009;

Roll Call Vote 67: No on H. Res. 168, providing for consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009;

Roll Call Vote 68: No on the question of consideration of the conference report to H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009;

Roll Call Vote 69: Yes on the motion to recommit the conference report to H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009;

Roll Call Vote 70: No on agreeing to the conference report to H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009;

Roll Call Vote 71: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules agree to H. Res. 139, Commemorating the life and legacy of President Abraham Lincoln on the bicentennial of his birth;

Roll Call Vote 72: No on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 911, the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act;

Roll Call Vote 73: No on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 44, the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act;

Roll Call Vote 74: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 601, the Box Elder Utah Land Conveyance Act;

Roll Call Vote 75: No on approving the journal;

Roll Call Vote 76: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and H.R. 80, the Captive Primate Safety Act;

Roll Call Vote 77: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 637, the South Orange County Recycled Water Enhancement Act;

Roll Call Vote 78: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H. Res. 83, Recognizing the significance of Black History Month;

Roll Call Vote 79: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and pass S. 234, the Colonel John H. Wilson, Jr. Post Office Building;

Roll Call Vote 80: Yes on approving the journal;

Roll Call Vote 81: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 47, Supporting the goals and ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day;

Roll Call Vote 82: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 180, Supporting the goals and ideals of the third annual America Saves Week;

Roll Call Vote 83: No on the consideration of H. Res. 184, providing for consideration of H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations for 2009;

Roll Call Vote 84: Yes on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 184, providing for consideration of H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations for 2009;

Roll Call Vote 85: Yes on H. Res. 184, providing for the consideration of H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations of 2009;

Roll Call Vote 86: No on passage of H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations of 2009;

Roll Call Vote 87: No on the motion to table H. Res. 189, raising a question of the privileges of the House;

Roll Call Vote 88: No on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 190, providing for consideration of H.R. 1106 to prevent mortgage foreclosures and enhance mortgage credit availability;

Roll Call Vote 89: No on H. Res. 190, Providing for consideration of H.R. 1106 to prevent mortgage foreclosures and enhance mortgage credit availability;

Roll Call Vote 90: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 183, expressing condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims of the crash of Continental Connection flight 3407;

Roll Call Vote 91: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 146, the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act;

Roll Call Vote 92: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 548, the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act;

Roll Call Vote 93: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H. Res. 77, congratulating the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA for more than 100 years of service and leadership to the United States;

Roll Call Vote 94: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H. Res. 201, recognizing Beverly Eckerts service to the nation and particularly to the survivors and families of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Roll Call Vote 95: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H. Res. 195, recognizing and honoring the employees of the Department of Homeland Security on its sixth anniversary for their continuous efforts to keep the nation safe; and

Roll Call Vote 96: Yes on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H. Res. 45, raising awareness and promoting education on the criminal justice system by establishing March as National Criminal Justice Month.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you for an opportunity to speak on an important anniversary. As we honor the Department of Homeland Security we also take the time to salute the nearly 223,000 employees who make up the agencies staff. I recently had the pleasure of meeting the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano and made sure to mention how proud I am of her staff.

Congress created the Homeland Security Department as a result of the tragic events of September 11, consolidating the nation's efforts to prevent, prepare for, protect against, respond to, and mitigate threats to the homeland. On March 1, 2003, the Homeland Security Department united 22 agencies, and 2009 marks its sixth year of full-scale operations.

As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure I am well aware of the sacrifice and diligence of the more than 223,000 Homeland Security employees who work in the department. This resolution recognizes and honors the employees of the Homeland Security Department on its sixth anniversary for their continuous efforts to keep the nation safe.

Our nation has remained safe since the terrorist attacks thanks to the hard work, fastidious attention to detail and dedication of the many employees of this Department.

The day-to-day tedium that the professionals at the Department of Homeland Security only serve to underscore how vital they

are as a protective force. Mr. Speaker, they truly are on the frontlines, at our nation's busiest ports. They are the people who make sure that our children can walk home from that little red schoolhouse; they are the people who allow us to exercise our constitutional right to travel freely and associate with whom we like; they are the people who allow us to proclaim loudly that ``I have the right to free speech,'' to essentially be American.

I would also be remiss if I did not take note of some of the tasks that the department faces this year onward. The Department of Homeland Security is an integral part of the plan to increase usage of safer and more efficient mass transit. We must utilize our federal dollars to improve our rail and over-the-road bus systems. We must work to ensure safe package by training workers to be the best they can and to continue to take pride in their work. These improvements must be modernized to be the best security and safety systems.

The Transportation Worker Identification Credential or TWIC program must be updated to allow for seamless processing for our workers most of whom depend on their jobs to feed their families. Border and Maritime security is the absolute beginning of what it means to be a safe country.

Transportation Security Administration or TSA workers must continue to be better trained because they are on the frontlines of our nation's airport security. These workers must also be afforded the opportunity to have collective bargaining rights if they chose and the ability to report fraud, corruption and wrongdoing. That is the essence of the whistleblower protections which we just voted to include in H.R. 1 that I fought for and will continue to press, and yes, even in a Democratic administration. Mr. Speaker, these are just a few of the laundry list of items that Secretary Napolitano and her staff will tackle in the coming months and years. I am confident though that they are up to the task of making the Department of Homeland Security an even better federal agency.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 195) recognizing and honoring the employees of the Department of Homeland Security on its sixth anniversary for their continuous efforts to keep the Nation safe.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support House Resolution 195, a measure to honor the employees of the Department of Homeland Security and to mark the sixth anniversary of the Department's creation.

The Department of Homeland Security was tasked with the Herculean responsibility of coordinating with State, local, and tribal entities to prevent future terrorist attacks, secure our borders, and to prepare for and respond to events of national significance. Comprised of 22 different Federal agencies

and employing over 223,000 of our finest Federal employees, DHS quickly became one of the largest Federal departments.

Twenty-four hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, employees of the Department of Homeland Security are working to prevent and prepare for any threat to our country. At this very moment they are patrolling our skies, securing our borders, sailing our coastal waters, and screening people and cargo entering our country. They are also collaborating, cooperating, and coordinating with State, local, and tribal governments and first responders in all 50 States and our territories to ensure we can respond to any future large-scale events either man-made or natural. These dedicated Homeland Security employees are working tirelessly to improve the safety for all Americans and are doing a commendable job.

Department of Homeland Security employees stand willing, ready, and able to respond should catastrophe strike. They work long hours to deter, detect, and prevent acts of terrorism against the homeland. They can be sure that Congress will continue to conduct vigorous oversight of management at DHS, but I cannot stress how much we truly appreciate the work of the dedicated DHS employees working to protect the safety of all Americans.

My thanks to Congressman Bilirakis for introducing the resolution and to the Speaker for the time on the floor today. I encourage my colleagues to support House Resolution 195 as we honor the employees of the Department of Homeland Security.

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

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

As you have heard, Mr. Bilirakis and I discussed the Department of Homeland Security and the importance of the employees and the incredible talents that they represent in protecting us 24/7/365. It's actually the most important job we have in this country right now. They are keeping the borders safe. They are making sure we are not attacked, and they have prevented the attacks since 9/11. That in combination with our support will make them the finest domestic force that we have.

I encourage every Member of this body to vote for H. Res. 195.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security who work diligently to secure our Nation.

I'm proud to introduce this resolution with Congressman Chris Carney, chairman of the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight, on which I serve as ranking member.

Chairman Carney, I look forward to working with you this Congress, and I think our subcommittee is getting off to a great start by having this resolution on the floor today.

I also want to thank Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member King, and the other members of the Committee on Homeland Security who joined as cosponsors of my resolution.

My district is home to many of the department's employees, including Transportation Security officers, Customs and Border Protection officers, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and Coast Guardsmen. I thank them for the work they do day in and day out to ensure that Florida, and our Nation, is secure.

These employees often do not receive the recognition they deserve. The fact that our Nation has not been attacked since September 11, 2001, is due to their tireless efforts. They work long hours, often sacrificing time with their loved ones, to get the job done.

In 2006 the Department of Homeland Security ranked nearly last in the Office of Personnel Management's Federal Human Capital Survey, showing overwhelming employee dissatisfaction and low morale. Since that time the department, under former Secretary Chertoff's leadership, has worked to address these issues, and I'm pleased to report their efforts are paying off.

The Office of Personnel Management recently released the results of the 2008 Federal Human Capital Survey, and the department showed improvement in nearly every category of the survey, ranking in the top five of most improvement among Federal agencies. The largest increase came in the job satisfaction indices, evidencing a much-needed increase in employee morale.

This is great news, but more work needs to be done, Mr. Speaker. The department will now use the results of this survey to further improve working conditions at the department and within its components. As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight, I look forward to working with the department and Chairman Carney to address the concerns of the employees, improve morale, and foster a ``one DHS'' culture, so very important. The department's employees deserve nothing less, in my opinion.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in honoring the hardworking men and women of the Department of Homeland Security by supporting this resolution.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 195.

As Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, it is an honor for me to join Mr. Bilirakis in recognizing the employees of the Department of Homeland Security on the sixth anniversary of the Department's inception.

Since its creation, the Department's mission has continued to grow and evolve. While the initial impetus for the Department's creation was the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11th, the Department has since grown into an agency that is charged with not only protecting us from terrorism, but also protecting us from dangerous goods, emerging threats, and coordinating response to catastrophic incidents.

Despite a host of challenges and repeated internal reorganization, the Department's employees have worked tirelessly to ensure continued security for all Americans. Their dedication in the face of frequent internal adversity is to be commended.

The Department's employee workforce represents hundreds of occupations, from scientists to emergency managers to border patrol agents to economists. And, although the make-up of the Department is diverse and employee responsibilities are plentiful, all of its employees are united in carrying out the Department's mission to protect the American people, reduce the risk of terrorist attacks, and enhance the Nation's preparedness and response capabilities.

I pledge to them, that I will continue to work to ensure that employees have the necessary resources and training to do their jobs. These dedicated individuals should also be afforded with full protections and rights that are given to other employees in the federal government.

As the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I have repeatedly challenged the Department's senior leaders to make the Department a top-notch agency. I believe that the Department's workforce cannot be taken for granted.

With the change in leadership at DHS, there is a real opportunity to improve morale by investing in the men and women that help keep the nation secure. I look forward to working with Secretary Napolitano and the rest of the Department's leadership to make sure that they get the training, resources, and support that they need.

I urge my colleagues to support the resolution and thank the men and women who make up the Department of Homeland Security for their constant vigilance and commitment.