Hon. Nancy Pelosi / US House of Representatives – 2006-09-11 12:09:57
http://www.dccc.org/action_center/petitions/pass_911_reforms
Five years after 9/11, our nation is not as safe as it should be. Our first responsibility is to keep the American people safe and Congress must pass legislation to implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations.
Grandstanding and making political speeches about how serious one is on national security does not make one serious.
To the contrary, if Republicans spent half as much time genuinely trying to keep us safe as they do denouncing those who disagree with their “stay the course” plan as traitors, we could find common ground to make this country safer.
First and foremost, we could finally implement the straight-forward recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.
Five years after 9/11, our nation is not as safe as it should be. Glaring deficiencies remain in our homeland security – the federal government’s response to natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, and the failure to secure our ports and airports are evidence enough.
Now, more than two years after the independent and bipartisan 9/11 Commission released its urgent recommendations, the Republican Congress has not passed or fully implemented them.
Our first responsibility is to keep the American people safe. Congress must pass legislation to implement all of the 9/11 Commission recommendations.
Less Talk, More Action: Demand Passage of the 9/11 Commission Reforms for Real Security
On Monday, we will mark the five year anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks that changed our nation. It has been more than two years since the independent 9/11 Commission issued its findings and made its recommendations about how to close those gaps. It’s been ten months since the Commission issued its final report card, full of failing grades.
The 9/11 Commission was one of the most effective independent committees in history, composed of a dedicated panel of experts. It’s a disgrace that its recommendations for improving our safety were ultimately tossed aside by the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress.
What is the excuse for this abdication of responsibility? What could have been more important to the Republicans that they could not find time to implement these recommendations?
Less Talk, More Action:
Demand Passage of the 9/11 Commission Reforms for Real Security
The 9/11 Commission’s final report card on America’s safety was an indictment of the continued failure by the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress to meet the security needs of our nation and make Americans safer. They have not done what it takes to win the war on terror.
In delaying and ignoring the recommendations of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, the Republican Congress and the Bush Administration have left America at risk by:
• Repeatedly shortchanging port security;
• Repeatedly under-funding those in charge of our intelligence and emergency response;
• Failing to adequately integrate government wide communications — connecting the dots.
We can win the war on terror, but we need to make sure that those fighting for our security have the resources and tools they need.
Less Talk, More Action: Demand Passage of the 9/11 Commission Reforms for Real Security
Under Democratic leadership, we would hold an up or down vote in the first week on the 9/11 Commission recommendations, because we can’t afford to wait another minute.
Our first responsibility as elected officials is the security of the American people. The American people deserve better from their leaders and you should ask the question: are we safer today than we were five years ago?
Less Talk, More Action: Demand Passage of the 9/11 Commission Reforms for Real Security
We must work together for a new direction that that provides real security for the American people.
Thank you for standing with us.
Nancy Pelosi is the House Democratic Leader
