President Bush's reorganization plan addresses a serious problem. More than a hundred federal agencies have a role to play in homeland security, from the Department of Defense (DoD) to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Tom Ridge, as Director of Homeland Security in the White House, currently doesn't have the crucial ability to order any of them to actually implement reforms by ordering changes to be made or even testifying before Congress on multiple programs. Other agencies can write checks and put people in the field, but they are not accountable to Governor Ridge.

The Bush Administration proposes that the Department of Homeland Security will house four divisions:

• border and transportation security
• emergency preparedness and response
• chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear countermeasures
• intelligence analysis and infrastructure protection.

Obviously, we should work to find savings in the reorganization so that the new structure is as "revenue neutral" as possible. But, we must also realize that in many ways now, we cannot afford to not restructure the Executive Branch to responsibly address the new challenges we face.

Before this proposal can become law, congressional scrutiny and approval is required. I am already working with the Speaker of the House and the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee to make sure our homeland defenses are stronger and more efficient by approving the President's proposal as amended by the Congress of the United States.