US President Bush Unveils Homeland Security Plan

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, July 17, 2002

US President Bush Unveils Homeland Security Plan

US President George W. Bush unveiled his homeland security plan on Tuesday, urging Congress towork swiftly to pass his plan.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

US President George W. Bush unveiled his homeland security plan on Tuesday, urging Congress towork swiftly to pass his plan.

"Protecting Americans from attack is our most urgent national priority," Bush said in a short speech at the White House to introduce the plan.

"This comprehensive plan lays out clear lines of authority and clear responsibilities -- responsibilities for federal employees, for governors and mayors and community and business leaders and the American citizens," he said following a meeting with members of Congress to discuss the proposed Department of Homeland Security.

Bush pointed out that the current structure of government is a "patchwork" which hinders its responsibilities to protect the homeland.

In the 90-page document which was presented to lawmakers, Bush laid out a national homeland security strategy to protect America from terrorist attacks, includes using the US military to enforce quarantines during a biological attack and "red teams" of agents thinking like terrorists to pinpoint weaknesses.

The plan, meant to be the guiding philosophy behind all future domestic counterterrorism measures, also calls for new extraditionand secrecy laws, new vaccines, tighter border inspections, a major effort to protect infrastructure such as power plants and pipelines and a reform of US immigration services.

"This is a national strategy, not a federal strategy," Bush wrote in a letter to the nation which was released Monday.

He said the plan is the product of eight months of consultationwith thousands of people, including politicians, civil servants, and victims and their families.

The strategy, the first of its kind in US history, said its goals are to prevent terrorism, reduce vulnerability to attacks and minimize damage from any that do occur.

The Select House Committee on Homeland Security, which is expected to assemble legislation made by other House committees, was to hear Tuesday from Health and Human Services Secretary TommyThompson, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham.

US Congress is moving at an unusually fast pace to review the Bush proposal to merge all or parts of 22 federal agencies into a department with a 38-billion-dollar budget and approximately 170,000 employees.

A dozen House committees made numerous changes last week to theproposal, including splitting the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which Bush wants to send intact to the new department, and keeping independent the Federal Emergency Management Agency rather than including it in the new agency.

Testifying before the nine-member House Select Committee on Homeland Security, Bush's homeland security adviser Tom Ridge urged lawmakers to reconsider making broad changes to Bush's proposal on the new agency.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Bush Homeland Security Plan Risky, US Think Tank Warns

How to View Major Problems in China's Income Distribution System ( 35 Messages)

Gang of 66 Criminals Get Heavy Sentences ( 3 Messages)

Sino-Russian Military Exercise not Targeting Third Country ( 58 Messages)

Shanghai Plans Asia's Biggest Shopping Center ( 124 Messages)

Taiwan to Lift Half-century Ban on Direct Investment in Mainland ( 2 Messages)

China's Economy Grew 7.8 Percent in First Half Year ( 3 Messages)