Speech #1100151513

Due to the Homeland Securitys employees diligence. the department has done a magnificent job of deterring. detecting. and preventing acts of terrorism from occurring on U.S. soil. Over 331 pieces of legislation related to Homeland Security have been introduced since the Departments inception. From the healthrelated issues surrounding clean up of Ground Zero to Customs and Border Protection. the Department covers several facets affecting our national security. Working for the Department of Homeland Security is more than a job. It would be like saying that we as Members of Congress simply have a job. Homeland Security is a belief in the greatness of this nation and the desire to protect it no matter where the enemy comes from. no matter how large or small the attack. I thank the employees for the work they do and their belief in the need for protecting our Nations borders. airports. seaports. rail lines. transit systems. and most importantly our way of life. That is why I have introduced legislation such as H.R. 750 (110th] the Save America Comprehensive Immigration Act of 2007. which seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to provide increased protections and eligibility for familysponsored immigrants. It would authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to deny a familybased immigration petition by a U.S. petitioner for an alien spouse or child if: (1) the petitioner is on the national sex offender registry for a conviction that resulted in more than one years imprisonment. (2) the petitioner has failed to rebut such information within 90 days. and (3) granting the petition would put a spouse or child beneficiary in danger of sexual abuse. Among other things it would direct the Secretary to establish the Task Force to Rescue Immigrant Victims of American Sex Offenders. I also introduced H.R. 1530. the Chemical Facility Security Improvement Act of 2007 to prohibit federal funds from being used by the Secretary of Homeland Security to approve a site security plan for a chemical facility unless the facility meets or exceeds security standards and requirements to protect it against terrorist acts established by the State or local government for the area where it is located. Because while I support and commend the Department of Homeland Security.