The CBC "Message to America" is distributed nationwide to the American Urban Radio Network's (AURN) affiliate stations.

            WHO:        U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson (D-MS)

            WHEN:      Saturday, September 22, 2006; 12:06 p.m. EST

            WHERE:   American Urban Radio Network Affiliate Stations

Representative Thompson is expected to deliver the following remarks:

“This is Congressman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi’s Second Congressional District with this week’s CBC Message to America.

“We have to look no further than five-years ago to the September 11 terrorist attacks or one-year ago to the disasters of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to understand that we are up against real challenges in security.  America is still not as safe as we should be.

“We simply cannot afford to continue to put off our growing security needs.  The Bush Administration’s ‘wait until next year’ approach does not cut it.  It is time for a new direction and the time for real security is right now. 

“Security is not just a government responsibility; real security is everyone’s responsibility.  As part of our responsibility, we must hold all public officials accountable. 

“This Administration has been lucky enough to get by on ‘flashlight cop’ security tactics.  We all remember the failures of 9/11 when many first responders lost their lives because communications did not work.  As Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast, the same story emerged.  

“Firefighters and police along the Gulf Coast did not have the means to communicate.  There is an immediate need to fully man, train and equip our police, firefighters and other first responders.   There is an immediate need to implement all of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission recommendations to secure America’s borders and ports and screen 100 percent of containers.  

“Five years ago, every town, small and large, got a reality check with 9/11.  Last year’s hurricanes exposed the fact that we still have not gotten the security job done.  Let’s not allow our security to fail us again.  It’s time for a new direction. It is time for real security.