Promoting Antiterrorism Capabilities Through International Cooperation Act
PROMOTING ANTI TER ROR ISM CAPABILITIES THROUGH INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACT -- (House of Representatives - September 26, 2006)
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from New Jersey for those kind words.
I rise this evening in strong support of H.R. 4942, the Promoting Anti ter ror ism Capabilities Through International Cooperation Act, which Chairman King and I introduced along with Chairman REICHERT and Ranking Member PASCRELL and other Members. I am happy to see this bill finally make it to the House floor.
I first raised the idea of this bill in January 2005, soon after I became ranking member. I know my Democratic colleagues had pushed for it in the 108th Congress as well. While it took a while to get my colleagues on board, I was glad when they finally did. The product before us today is a good one.
Personally, I expressly want to thank Chris Beck and Todd Gee from my staff and Andy Weiss from the majority staff for their hard work on this bill.
The threat of terrorism is an international one. Terrorist attacks occur all over the world, and we must promote international cooperation to stop them.
Cooperation in developing anti ter ror ism technology should be a top priority. The different challenges faced by our many friends around the world have resulted in new approaches that the United States should leverage to protect our citizens.
In fact, Mr. Speaker, the United States has a history of conducting scientific and technological collaborations with Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and others. The Department of Homeland Security has participated in some of these partnerships with foreign governments and others. This legislation will encourage and further strengthen those efforts, as well as direct the Department to look to new partners beyond those we already have.
I am especially heartened that this bill will strengthen the means for protecting our Nation's agriculture and public health from exotic diseases. Emerging diseases that can affect both animals and humans are a threat to the world's population. Active collaboration with scientists in Africa, where many of these diseases originate, should be promoted. I am glad this bill encourages that collaboration.
Too often, Mr. Speaker, the United States presents a posture of unilateralism to the world. I hope that through programs like the one authorized in this legislation we encourage a more cooperative approach.
I strongly support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
http://thomas.loc.gov/