Thompson Marks 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement marking the 10th Anniversary of enactment of H.R. 1, The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-53). On August 3rd, 2007, President Bush signed H.R. 1, originally written and sponsored by then-Chairman Thompson.
“Ten years ago, under the leadership of the new Democratic Congress, major legislation was enacted to make America more secure by directing the Federal Government and its homeland security partners to take critical actions to implement the bipartisan 9/11 Commission recommendations.”
“In the past decade, The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act has changed how we protect the homeland. Although we don’t always see the impact in our daily lives, every aspect of the Department of Homeland Security’s diverse mission has been affected, modified, and improved. Grants supporting our local first responders are now based on risk, fusion centers where intelligence is shared with local first responders operate across the country, 100 percent of air cargo on passenger planes is screened, first responder interoperable communications have significantly improved, and the Visa Waiver Program was reformed to prevent it from being exploited by terrorists.”
“However, numerous mandates in the bill are still not fully complete and the Department of Homeland Security has faced challenges with implementation. We still do not have a biometric exit system though the Department has a pilot underway. We still do not scan all 100 maritime cargo, including cargo at risk of containing nuclear material. The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board is currently defunct.”
“We knew that full implementation was not going to be a simple task, still, we came together to pas H.R. 1 into law to keep faith with the American people and improve the safety and security of the country. Two successive Administrations have endeavored to make progress on these critical mandates. The Trump Administration and Congress should take this moment to reflect on all that has been accomplished and what, working together, still needs to be done. This year and going forward, I hope that DHS continues its work on ensuring that the law is followed and fully enacted as soon as possible.”
More info on H.R. 1 (110th Congress)
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