In the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, Congress enacted legislation to protect the United States and prevent future attacks from taking place. But enough has not been done. Those we rely on to protect and assist us in times of need are short handed and shortchanged. Now, two years after the most deadly single-day attack in our nation's history, the question we should be asking is whether we are as secure as we need to be from future terrorist attacks. Unfortunately, the answer is "no." In the words of an expert bipartisan commission of the Council on Foreign Relations, we are "dangerously unprepared" to prevent and respond to another terrorist attack.

Democrats understand that more needs to be done to protect our country and have created a plan that puts security first and calls on the Administration to fulfill its commitment to make Americans safer and more secure.

Prevent terrorist attacks. To preempt terrorist attacks, the federal government needs to provide specific, usable threat information to state and local law enforcement. Today, state and local law enforcement officials have not been granted the security clearances they need from the federal government and lack the best information technology and interoperable communications equipment available. The Department of Homeland Security must also develop a comprehensive terrorist threat assessment, catalogue our critical vulnerabilities across the nation, and use these tools to set priorities and create a detailed strategy to protect the homeland.

Protect our borders on land, sea, and air. Today, there is not a single system for keeping track of who enters and exits the United States. Border agents and inspectors do not have real-time information on potential terrorists who are likely to try to enter our nation. Hundreds of miles of our border go unmonitored by personnel or technology every day. And only three percent of the millions of cargo containers that enter the United States are ever checked for weapons of mass destruction. Due to the lack of funding and commitment, many ports are struggling to make the necessary security changes, leaving them extremely vulnerable. The Coast Guard is short on personnel and its plans to upgrade ships and air patrol are five years behind schedule. And 22 percent of all passenger flight air cargo ever goes through a security check, despite a law that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will screen all cargo. The Administration must commit the personnel and resources to fully secure our borders, ports, and passenger aircraft.

Provide security inside America. Since September 11th, the Administration has paid insufficient attention to the protection of critical infrastructure within the United States, including chemical and nuclear facilities, commercial transport, mass transit, power systems and other utilities, and high-volume buildings and public venues like skyscrapers and stadiums. While 85 percent of critical infrastructure is privately owned, the Administration's over-reliance on voluntary private action to enhance security has left us with a weak patchwork of efforts that does not give American communities the protection they deserve. The Administration must improve critical infrastructure protection across the board. It must rapidly develop a single comprehensive national list of risks and vulnerabilities in all critical infrastructure sectors and work with the private sector and municipal governments to provide the necessary level of security at these facilities.

Preparing our communities. There has been no systematic review to determine the equipment, training, personnel, and planning needed for America's first responders-police, firefighters, and emergency personnel-need to protect our communities from terrorist attacks. America's first responders still can't talk with one another at a time of crisis. Communications equipment is not interoperable and that means that too often at a disaster site, firefighters, police and emergency personnel can't communicate. The threat of bioterrorism is a clear and present danger to the American people, but we are not prepared to respond to the breadth and sophistication of the potential biological attacks that we face. Federal agencies must help first responders prepare for the effects of a potential catastrophic attack, and acquire the specialized tools necessary for response.

Protecting our country and our constitution. We can strengthen our homeland security while protecting privacy and traditional civil rights and liberties. Our country can be secure while continuing to be a beacon for democracy around the world. The Administration must take strong measures to protect security across the board while maintaining respect for constitutional guarantees in the areas of privacy, due process, and the right to counsel.

We need better equipment for firefighters and police, stronger protection along our borders, and a real plan to respond to the emergencies that are today's reality. Improving safety and security for our families is a challenge we must meet.