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- Implementing 9/11 Report
Recommendations -- As a Member of the House-Senate Joint Inquiry into
the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Rep. Castle helped prepare recommendations for
intelligence reform and is continuing to push for the full implementation
of the 9/11 Commission Report in Congress.
Due to the efforts of Rep. Castle and others, many of the 9/11
recommendations have become law.
Still, Rep. Castle has raised concerns that Congress has yet to implement
the 9/11 Commission's call for reforming congressional oversight of
intelligence funding. In response, he
has introduced legislation to strengthen transparency with respect to the Congressional
committees governing vital national intelligence spending.
- Border Security and Immigration --
Rep. Castle has fought to improve document security to prevent terrorists
from entering our country and gaining access to critical infrastructure. He successfully passed an amendment to
the REAL ID Act, which requires the names of person's convicted of using
false identification at airports to be entered into aviation security
screening watch-lists. He also won
approval for two provisions to enhance border security by implementing a
national biometric entry and exit system, and closely monitoring illegal
immigration from countries known to support terrorism. Additionally, Rep. Castle supported passage
of the Secure Fence Act to authorize the Department of Homeland Security
to construct a two layered reinforced fence along our southwest border and
operate remote cameras, ground sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles, and
other surveillance gear in order to prevent illegal border crossings.
- Flight School Training Background
Checks - Rep. Castle's initiative to push for background checks for flight
personnel was included in the 2001 Aviation Security Law. Rep. Castle has
continued to push for background checks for pilots of even smaller planes.
- Rail Security - Working to develop
a comprehensive approach to homeland security, Rep. Castle has long
believed that passenger rail lines, subway systems, and commuter trains remain
vulnerable to attack. In 2003, he
called for a federal study to investigate international methods of rail
security and how they can be applied in the U.S. Since then, he has worked to increase
funding for rail security initiatives like personnel security training,
public awareness campaigns, passenger and baggage screening, intelligence
analysis, suicide bomb detection, technology upgrades and reimbursements
to state and local governments for safety upgrades. Rep. Castle's legislation requiring the
implementation of rail security practices that have proven effective in
Europe and Asia was signed into law by the President in August 2007. As the author of the Rail Security and
Public Awareness Act, Rep. Castle has led Congress in authorizing and
funding Amtrak's new mobile security teams, which are dedicated to
enhancing safety at train stations and along passenger rail lines.
- Port Security - Working to ensure
the Port of Wilmington is a model of port
security in this nation, Rep. Castle has consistently fought for funding to
implement effective security initiatives at the port including cargo
screening and improved employee certification. He has focused on the development of
security plans, implementation measures to address access control,
security monitoring, and physical, passenger, personnel, and baggage and
cargo security. Rep. Castle has also
participated in Homeland Security Committee hearings on the Transportation
Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), a cutting edge biometric
technology, and worked to ensure the new cards expand security while
protecting the rights of port workers and allowing commerce to continue at
the Port of Wilmington.
- Natural Disaster Response -- Rep. Castle
has led the effort in the House of Representatives to ensure the ability
of volunteer firefighters to respond to "Presidentially-declared
disasters," such as the hurricanes that struck the Gulf Coast in 2005. Rep. Castle's legislation, The Volunteer
Firefighter and EMS Personnel Job Protection Act, would enable first
responders to more readily respond to Presidentially-declared disasters by
protecting their civilian jobs while they are volunteering to help others.
- Interrogation of Detainees -- After
learning of inhumane treatment of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison and the Guantanamo
Bay detainment facility, Rep. Castle partnered with Sen. John McCain to
establish uniform interrogation standards and to outlaw any interrogation treatment
that would violate international human rights standards. Rep. Castle believes it is critical that our
soldiers have the tools they need to keep Americans safe. He also feels strongly that enforcing
this new law will reaffirm our position as the world's leader on human
rights, and establish an unambiguous standard for the international
treatment of detainees.
- Homeland
Security Grants -- Working to ensure that homeland security
grants are spent effectively and appropriately, Rep. Castle has introduced
legislation to ensure a minimum level of funding for each state to protect
chemical plants, ports and other infrastructures. While promoting funding distribution based on
the risk of attacks, he made sure Delawareans would have access to important
federal resources.
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