Congressman Pete King

Homeland Security

Islamic terrorism is the most diabolical threat facing our nation today. No American ever wants to relive the attacks of September 11th. This is particularly true on Long Island where hundreds of our friends and neighbors were murdered on that horrific day. As Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee and as a member of the Intelligence Committee, I know that the New York- Long Island region remains the number one terrorist target in the country.

The war against Islamic terrorism must be fought in many ways and we must do all we can to stay ahead of our enemy. That is why I strongly supported the PATRIOT Act and the right of our government to intercept terrorist phone calls being made into the United States from overseas. As Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee I worked hard to pass legislation securing our ports, our chemical plants and our airports. And now as Ranking Member I have reached across the aisle to pass legislation protecting our rail and transportation systems.

Senator Joe Lieberman and I also cooperated on legislation (P.L. 110-53) which provides legal immunity to individuals who report terrorist or suspicious activity which they see on trains or planes to law enforcement. This arose from a situation in Minneapolis where public spirited citizens reported to airport authorities very suspicious activity by six imams on a plane and were sued by those imams. H.R. 1, however, only applies to transportation systems. I believe the immunity should cover all activities. That is why – again working with Senator Lieberman – I have introduced the See Something, Say Something Act of 2009 (H.R. 2064) which would extend the good faith civil immunity to reporting of any terrorist or suspicious threat.

I will, of course, continue my efforts to ensure that New York and Long Island receive the Homeland Security funding needed for our police and fire departments, our subway and commuter lines and our ports and highways. I am particularly concerned that the next terrorist attack against New York City will be launched from the suburbs as happened in London and Madrid. That is why New York’s Securing the Cities program, which would establish radiation detection throughout our region, is so vital. It was terribly wrong for the Obama administration to eliminate all funding for this program in this year’s budget. Therefore, I have introduced legislation (H.R. 2611) which would implement a unified strategy and provide the technology for defending New York City, Long Island and surrounding areas against radiological and nuclear threats. This legislation passed the House on January 20, 2010.

President Obama’s decision to transfer Khalid Sheik Mohammed and the other 9/11 terrorists from Guantanamo to New York City for trial in federal civilian court is one of the most irresponsible decisions ever made by any president. These terrorists don’t belong in lower Manhattan, mere blocks from Ground Zero, City Hall, NYPD headquarters and the Brooklyn Bridge. This decision to transfer them to New York City for trial creates an enormous, unnecessary terror risk to the people who already live and work downtown and to the entire region, and will cost more than $1 billion. We should all be working together to keep terrorists out of New York City, not move them into New York City.
Last month, I introduced, the Stopping Criminal Trials for Guantanamo Terrorists Act (H.R. 4542), a bill which has gained bipartisan support and will stop the NYC trial for these and other Guantanamo terrorists and require that they be tried in military commissions. This is a fight which I will continue.