Exercising congressional oversight authority provides lawmakers a critical tool to keep the federal government on its toes. As the counterterrorism campaign continues, lawmakers are reviewing changes made after 9/11 to beef up homeland security, including efforts to improve communications between federal-state-and local authorities and emergency preparedness in communities across the country. Border patrol agents, sky marshals, food safety inspectors, first-responders and law enforcement authorities are on the job 24/7 to protect the American public. Congress approved a new Cabinet-level department to keep government officials who have a role in homeland security under one roof to improve accountability.

Through oversight work in Congress, Senator Grassley is keeping close tabs on the new Department of Homeland Security to curb turf battles (Link June 3, 2005: FBI/ICE press release) that may impede rather than improve domestic security and emergency preparedness, protect whistleblowers, and ensure we strike a proper balance between border/trade security and the smooth flow of goods and services so important to the U.S. economy.

As Congress debates measures to enhance homeland security, Senator Grassley works to make sure would-be terrorists don’t use the nation’s visa program to circumvent U.S. immigration laws. He is pushing legislation that would allow foreigners whose visas are revoked to be deported immediately. Under current law, a potential terrorist can take advantage of the U.S. court system to avoid deportation. (Link: March 19, 2007.)

Tell Senator Grassley what you think about this issue.