The Committee Democrats’ report lists several pieces of legislation to make America safer that have been overlooked by the Republican leadership. The report also notes the importance of Langevin’s amendment to H.R. 4312, the Border Security and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2005, which passed the House Homeland Security Committee in November. The amendment seeks to speed deployment of radiation portal monitors at U.S. ports of entry to aid in detecting nuclear material. A version of the legislation is expected to be considered by the full House of Representatives next week.

“I commend the 9/11 Commission for its continued work, and this final report is certainly cause for grave concern,” said Langevin. “What is perhaps most disappointing is that the report is not stating anything new -- these are all issues we have been trying to tackle for some time now, but most of our efforts have not enjoyed adequate support from the Republican leadership in Congress or the Bush Administration. Clearly, work needs to continue to strengthen and enhance our homeland security efforts.”

Specifically, Langevin believes two areas need to be addressed immediately: funding and first-responder communications.

“We need to move to a risk-based funding formula, which I and the entire Homeland Security Committee support,” continued Langevin. “I want to protect the federal money coming to Rhode Island, but with scarce resources, strengthening national security must be based on risk and not territorial interests. We must also continue to work towards creating a dedicated spectrum for first responder communications, an issue that was made tragically clear on September 11, 2001, and further highlighted in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.”

“Most importantly, we need to continue focusing on homeland security as an urgent issue, and not be lulled into a false sense of security the farther we get from 9/11, because we know terrorists are patient and still want to do us harm.”

Earlier this week, the 9/11 Commission Public Discourse Project released its “Final Report on 9/11 Commission Recommendations,” which finds that the Administration and the Congress have failed to implement many of the Commission’s recommendations to prevent or prepare for a terrorist attack. The Commission gave the federal government failing grades in its efforts to make America more secure.