April 11, 2002

HARMAN TESTIFIES ON TOM RIDGE
AND HOMELAND SECURITY BEFORE
SENATE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

-- Rather than give him a letter grade for his first six months on the job, I would use the Administration's own color-coding system and assign the overall Homeland Security effort a red - for severely behind schedule--

WASHINGTON D.C. - Rep. Harman today appeared before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee to testify on proposals to improve the government's organization for homeland security.

Commenting on Ridge's first six months since becoming Homeland Security Director, Harman stated, "Rather than give him a letter grade for his first six months on the job, I would use the Administration's own color-coding system and assign the overall Homeland Security effort a red - for severely behind schedule."

In her testimony today, Harman said, "The position of the Director of Homeland Security was, and remains, too weak to accomplish its mission. Similar positions-such as the National Security Advisor and the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy-were created by Congress and vested with specific statutory authorities."

Harman added, "To succeed, Governor Ridge must oversee and coordinate the efforts of scores of federal departments and agencies. This will only happen if Ridge has the authority to direct other Cabinet Secretaries to participate in the larger homeland security mission as his strategy requires, not as they prefer. The Director of Homeland Security needs the institutional clout to win the bureaucratic turf wars and infighting. "

Harman noted that the new Senate legislation - combining several existing initiatives to give the Office of Homeland Security needed statutory authority - will improve the likelihood of passage of legislation addressing the shortcomings of Ridge's office. Rep. Harman, Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) and Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) will be introducing bipartisan companion legislation in the House.

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