The responsibility to protect our homeland is spread throughout 100 DIFFERENT governmental organizations. Not one agency has the primary mission to protect Americans here at home.

President George W. Bush recently unveiled his bold vision to establish a new Department of Homeland Security. The creation of an entirely new federal department will not only require extensive legislative action on Capitol Hill, but it will also have a long-lasting impact on the size and scope of the federal government. For the next several months, the Congress will be required to restructure committees and to modify jurisdiction. These changes will create some friction and inevitably upset the proverbial "apple cart" even though there is widespread agreement on the merits of the reorganization.

Some on Capitol Hill have asked that this massive new program -- the most sweeping change in the federal government in over a generation -- be enacted into law by September 11th 2002, the first anniversary of that horrific day. As a country, we should and will pay proper tribute to the many lives lost in a powerful way by showing the world that we are unified in spirit and resolve. However, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security will be a very complicated legislative process that should not be rushed or hastily put together. There are times when the Congress needs to pivot quickly and expedite legislation to the floor. We did precisely that following September 11th with emergency spending bills and relief packages. But, THIS is not one of those times and the only deadline we should concern ourselves with is the constitutional end of the current 107th Congress that is set to adjourn by the end of this year.

We have a duty to the American people to make sure that this new Department of Homeland Security is established in a very careful and decisive way to actively carry out the missions. Our country needs this new agency at this critical moment in history.

The President's proposal includes creating a clear and efficient executive structure with four divisions: Border and Transportation Security; Emergency Preparedness and Response; Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Countermeasures; and Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection.

President Bush did what needed to be done when he called on Congress to take this course of action. We obviously face challenges that require a new approach and a new management organization.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have already begun to weigh in with House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and Appropriations Chairman Bill Young (R-FL) on my desire to actively participate in this historic realignment of the federal government in this new era.