During my career in Congress, I have always advocated limited government and the protection of our civil liberties. The Department of Homeland Security establishes one department solely dedicated to our government's top priority, protecting Americans at home. The department will ensure that the government works better to fight terrorism and make Americans more secure in their home and in their communities. At the same time, there are provisions in this bill which specifically protect Americans' civil liberties and will prevent this great country from becoming a "police state."

This new Department takes in all the federal agencies that are crucial to protecting the Untied States and makes them accountable to one person. This will stop all the bureaucratic in-fighting and red tape between agencies that has plagued our security efforts.

There are also many provisions in H.R. 5005 that will protect our civil liberties and prevent this Department from becoming a mega-bureaucracy such as:

• An office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to ensure technology research and new regulations from the Department respect the civil liberties our citizens enjoy.
• Language prohibiting programs such as "Operation TIPS" to ensure that no operation of the Department can be construed to promote citizens spying on one another.
• Authority to design and issue drivers' licenses and other ID cards will remain with the states so the Federal government will not have the authority to nationalize them.
• The Secretary will not be able to assume any regulatory authority not specifically allowed by Congress or to undo any agencies established by law.

This bill is the best way to protect us from evil without imposing restrictions and regulations on our lives.