Promoting Antiterrorism Cooperation Through Technology And Science Act
Floor Speech
PROMOTING ANTI TER ROR ISM COOPERATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE ACT -- (House of Representatives - February 27, 2007)
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Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 884, Promoting Anti ter ror ism Cooperation through Technology and Science Act, a bill considered in one form or another since the 108th Congress.
There is an old saying we tell school children: if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Although these words of encouragement may have originally applied to the grade school study of algebra or Latin, they are equally motivational to those of us serving in the 110th Congress.
I first raised the idea of this bill in January of 2005, soon after I became the ranking member. I know my Democratic colleagues had pushed for it in the 108th Congress at well.
Well, after years of trying, this Congress will succeed in sending this legislation to the President's desk. I know the other body will be taking up a similar provision attached to their bill seeking to fulfill the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. I am very pleased that they will soon join the House in passing this legislation.
Why is this bill so important? The answer lies in the nature of the terrorist threat. Terrorism is an international threat to the democratic way of life. Though we have experienced terrible tragedies of our own, terrorist attacks occur all over the world.
Terrorists have attacked buses in London; hotels in Israel; trains in Mumbai; embassies in Indonesia; resorts in Bali; and schools in Russia. As the global threat of terrorism is evident, so too is the solution to limiting those attacks. By promoting international cooperation, we will defeat the efforts of our enemies. Cooperation in developing anti ter ror ism technologies should be a top priority. The different challenges faced by our friends around the world have resulted in new approaches that the United States should leverage to protect our citizens.
International cooperation is nothing new for our country. In fact, the United States has a history of productive scientific and technical 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 other entities.
This legislation will encourage and strengthen those efforts and direct the Department to look for new partners beyond those we already have. This includes working with folks in the small business community who can bring exciting technologies to the table.
I am especially heartened that the bill will strengthen the means for protecting our Nation from exotic diseases. Active collaborations with scientists in Africa, where many of these diseases originate, should be promoted. This bill encourages that collaboration.
Too often, the United States presents a posture of unilateralism to the world. I hope that through programs like the ones authorized in this legislation, we encourage a more cooperative approach to fighting terrorism.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 884. I urge my colleagues to do the same.
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