Issue Position: Homeland Security

Issue Position

Issue Position: Homeland Security

Homeland security must include a substantial investment in safer airports, secure borders, community police, better transportation, improved public health, safeguards for nuclear facilities, energy conservation and the targeting of anti-terrorism resources towards the locations that face the greatest risk.. Not only will these federal investments shore up our defense against terrorism at home, but they will create jobs and boost the economy.

In recent years, my Senate colleagues and I supported a $15 billion special appropriation for increased homeland security, but the Bush Administration opposed it. Our proposal would have provided adequate funding for state and local police and firefighters to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks and upgrade their hazardous materials teams. It would have increased the number of INS border patrol and Customs Service agents, monitored foreign student visas more closely, combated bioterrorism by expanding local lab and hospital capacity to recognize pathogens and treat victims, accelerated the purchase of smallpox vaccines and anthrax antibiotics, hired more food inspectors to deter attacks against our food supply and enhanced security at U.S. labs.

Even before Sept. 11, I was working to provide greater security to protect our food supply from bioterrorism by streamlining federal oversight of the food safety process and increasing accountability in the system. There are currently as many as 12 different federal agencies and 35 different laws governing food safety. I have introduced a bill to create a single, independent food safety agency to consolidate all the resources and responsibilities of the current agencies with jurisdiction under one roof. The current system results in service gaps, inconsistencies and confusion about which agency oversees different types of food. With a single agency, I believe there would be increased efficiency and accountability.

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