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Dr. Coburn Disappointed Senate Rushing Consideration of Flawed Homeland Security Bill
Offers 166 amendments to improve bill in committee
February 15, 2007
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) released the following statement today regarding his decision to offer 166 amendments to S. 4, a bill to purportedly implement unfinished recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.
“I’m disappointed that this bill, in its current form, appears to have more to do with enhancing the political security of politicians than the physical security of the American people. Giving senators limited time to review a bill as complex as this suggests the Senate is more interested in creating the appearance of ‘accomplishment’ than improving our homeland security. I hope my amendments will give my colleagues and the American people ample time to study this bill’s provisions and to improve it as needed,” Dr. Coburn said.
Dr. Coburn’s 166 amendments are designed primarily to produce a bill that 1) is based on risk rather than perceived political rewards, and 2) avoids creating unnecessary duplication and bureaucracy.
“I’m concerned that this duplicative and bureaucratic legislation solves problems that do not exist while ignoring problems that do. I’m also troubled that Congress conveniently omitted itself from the 9/11 Commission’s list of government bodies that need to be reformed,” Dr. Coburn said. “In particular, I’m unable to reconcile this bill’s preoccupation with delivering to each state its ‘fair share’ of homeland security grant funding with the 9/11 Commission’s statement that, ‘Congress should not use this money as a pork barrel’. Our enemies would like nothing more than for Congress to base our security decisions not on reason and risk, but on parochial political interests.”
One Coburn amendment would eliminate funding for the Office for the Prevention of Terrorism.
“I believe many Americans will ask why we need a new Office for the Prevention of Terrorism when some might argue we already have such offices, including the Office of the President, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security or the Central Intelligence Agency. This effort to create an obviously duplicative office demonstrates that this is a hastily and ill-conceived bill,” Dr. Coburn said.
Dr. Coburn also has offered 32 amendments to prohibit the use of grant monies for non-security related activities that have been funded through the Department of Homeland Security. Activities or entities that shall not receive funding include yoga, art class, dance, bingo, theater workshops, gardens and parks, which have little to no deterrent or security value in the global war against terrorism.
“Congress has a lot of catch-up work to do in homeland security oversight. Unfortunately, this bill ignores ongoing problems while creating opportunities for further mismanagement,” Dr. Coburn said. “I also share Secretary Chertoff’s concern that we are rushing to approve new grants programs when we have $5 billion in unspent grant funds.”
“I appreciate the hard work Senators Lieberman and Collins have devoted to this bill, and their serious commitment to protecting the lives of the American people. I regret that some are urging this committee to follow a political timetable rather than a common sense policy timetable. The Senate should step back from this bill, hold an adequate number of hearings – which has not occurred – and produce a bill that will help secure the American people, not just our standing in the polls,” Dr. Coburn said.
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