Updated:Sorry for being quick here guys. Per request here is a
link to our Press Release. I've got to run. Thanks so much again.
First, please recommend this diary if you think others should see the information concerning the Republican culture of corruption I am posting.
As Congress is set to get back from recess tomorrow, I wanted to pass on this background information on how the House Republican leadership has repeatedly refused to consider important 9/11 Commission proposals and Homeland Security Reform Amendments. If anyone else is interested please help us spread the word concerning the broken legislative process in the people's House, and the Republican leadership's continued efforts to lock the Democratic agenda for Homeland Security in the basement, and to ignore critical 9/11commission recommendations. Thank you again for making me feel welcome in your wonderful community.
-LMS
The following partial list of amendments which have been offered in the Rules Committee this year by Democrats to various Homeland Security related bills which were all prohibited from even being debated or considered on the House floor by the Republican leadership.
The 13 included measures were Democratic amendments based directly on 9/11 Commission recommendations or were designed to increase our Homeland Security, and were prevented from being considered, debated or voted on by the full House by the Republican leadership. They represent a partial list of proposed Democratic reforms to Homeland Security
Democratic Amendments Based on 9/11 Commission Recommendations that Republicans Voted to Ban from the House floor:Rule for H.R. 418, REAL ID Act of 2005-February 9, 2005:Ruppersberger - support and enact section 5202 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 calling for the addition of 2000 new border patrol personnel each year for the next five years and includes proposed budget funding for 2010.
Rule for H. R. 2360-Department of Homeland Security Appropriations May 16, 2005:Obey - funds the additional border agents, immigration investigators, and detention beds Congress and the President called for in last year's 9/11 bill. It also provides states $100 million to implement the federal mandates in the REAL ID bill. The Obey amendment offsets these expenditures by capping the tax cut people making over $1 million this year will receive at $138,176.
Rule for H. R. 1815, the National Defense Authorization Act-May 24, 2005:Spratt - Adds $80 million to Odd and DoE nonproliferation programs to secure and dispose of vulnerable nuclear material. Offset by modest decreases to future silo construction of ground-based missile defense over and above missiles already scheduled for deployment.
Tauscher - Creates an Office for Combating the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction at the White House to better coordinate and budget for nonproliferation efforts resident in multiple agencies.
Woolsey - Requires the Secretary of Defense to replicate with Libya and Pakistan the Cooperative Threat Reduction program in which the U.S. works with the Russian Federation and states of the former Soviet Union to dismantle nuclear warheads, reduce nuclear stockpiles, and secure nuclear weapons and materials.
Rule for H.R. 2601 - Foreign Relations Authorization Act FY06-07-July 18, 2005:Markey -prohibits nuclear cooperation with or exports or transfers of controlled nuclear goods with any state that is not a member of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and which has exploded a nuclear device, or with any state sponsor of terrorism.
Other Democratic Amendments to increase Homeland Security that Republicans voted to ban from the House Floor:Rule for H..R. 1279, Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act of 2005-May 10, 2005:Jackson Lee- makes it illegal to transfer a firearm to any individual that the federal government has designated as a suspected or known gang member or terrorist.
Crowley- prohibits those on the Violent Gang and Terrorist Organizations File from purchasing firearms, ammunition, and explosives by means other than in person and to require records to be kept of the means by which the purchases are made
Rule for H.R. 1817-Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act of 2006 - May 17, 2005:Barrow and Markey - directing DHS to upgrade the security associated with transporting extremely hazardous materials;
Oberstar - authorizing funds to develop and implement a railroad security assessment, a railroad security plan, and prioritized recommendations for improving railroad security.
Markey - Requires the Secretary of DHS to establish, not later than 3 years after enactment of the bill, a system to physically inspect 100% of the cargo carried on passenger planes. The system shall, at a minimum, require that the equipment, technology, and personnel used to inspect the cargo meet the same standards established to inspect passenger baggage: 35% of cargo on passenger aircraft must be inspected by the end of FY 2006; 65% by FY 2007; and 100% by FY 2008.
Markey - Requires DHS to establish regulations to upgrade security of chemical facilities at which a worst-case terrorist attack or accident could harm more than 15,000 people. Includes whistleblower protections for those who are retaliated against for disclosing chemical security flaws.
Markey - Provides whistleblower protections for any government, contractor, or private sector employee who is retaliated against for disclosing national or homeland security flaws to Congress, the Federal government, or their employer.
So, this is a clear evidence that the legislative process in the people's House is broken. These critical reforms were not even allowed to be considered on the House Floor by this Republican Leadership. It is no surprise Republicans have received a failing grade on Homeland Security from the 9/11 Commission.
We can not afford any more of this Republican corruption and strong-arming of the democratic process. America can do better. All valuable ideas should be considered for the sake of our nation's security.