One of our government's foremost responsibilities is to provide safe communities for America's families.  Unfortunately, the Republican budget before the House fails to do so on many counts.  For that reason, I have joined congressional colleagues in support of a homeland security agenda that proactively and responsibly prepares us for the ever-changing security challenges facing our country.

The Real Security Agenda is a tough and smart Democratic alternative to a Republican Congressional budget that calls for cuts to homeland security programs by more than $6 billion over the next five years.  The Republican budget slashes funding for initiatives that provide our police officers and firefighters with the training and equipment they need.  Even with the recent focus on the vulnerability of our ports where only six percent of containers entering U.S. ports are screened, the Republican budget leaves more than two-thirds of our nation's seaports without the equipment necessary to detect concealed nuclear and radiological material.  Making matters worse, the President's budget proposes eliminating the Port Security Grant program and forces port officials to compete for federal funding with rail and mass transit systems.  In addition, instead of honoring our troops and their families for their tremendous sacrifices, the Republican budget cuts funding for the National Guard and triples TRICARE health fees for our veterans.  This is not an acceptable way to thank our brave men and women in uniform for their sacrifices.

In contrast, the Real Security Agenda is a broad initiative that will strengthen national, state and local preparedness by immediately implementing the 9/11 Commission's recommendations.  These protective measures are especially critical to our nation's large urban centers where population density and other attributes make them particularly vulnerable to terrorism.  An excellent example is our Los Angeles region which has our nation's largest port complex and is home to our nation's third busiest airport.

More specifically, the Real Security Agenda will:

• Screen 100 percent of containers and cargo bound for the U.S. in ships or airplanes at the point of origin and safeguard America's food and water supplies, mass transit systems and chemical and nuclear power plants; 
• Prevent the outsourcing of critical components of our national security infrastructure -- such as ports, airports and mass transit -- to foreign interests that put America at risk;
• Provide firefighters, emergency medical workers, police officers, and other workers on the front lines with the training, staffing, equipment and cutting-edge technology they need;
• Guarantee that our troops have the protective gear, equipment and training they need and strengthen the National Guard to ensure it is fully manned, equipped and available to meet missions at home and abroad;
• Enact a GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century that guarantees that our troops, veterans and their families receive the pay, health care, mental health services and other benefits they have earned and deserve;
• Protect America from biological terrorism and pandemics, including the Avian flu, by investing in the public health infrastructure and training public health workers; and
• Reduce our dependence on foreign oil from the Middle East by increasing production of alternative fuels from America's heartland, promoting hybrid and flex fuel-vehicle technology and enhancing conservation initiatives.

By taking these concerted steps, the Democratic Real Security Agenda will replace inadequate policies that severely underfund key programs with a national security agenda that truly protects our nation.  As a member who sits on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, I will continue to fight for passage of the Real Security Agenda to help keep our nation strong and secure.  America's families deserve no less. 
 
(Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard's office offers a wide variety of services to the community, including financial aid workshops, a service academy workshop, a scholarship directory and constituent casework services to assist district residents in resolving problems with federal agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration.  More information about federal services can be obtained by visiting Congresswoman Roybal-Allard's web site at www.house.gov/roybal-allard or by calling her district office at (213) 628-9230.)
 

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