The global war against terrorism will be a long, protracted conflict. The federal government needs to be properly structured and to have the tools that it needs to protect Americans today,tomorrow, and 10 and 20 years from now, and Congress should beappropriately organized to support this effort. A balanced,forward-looking, and nonpartisan final report from the 9/11Commission would be a significant step in the right direction.
The U.S. is spending the right amount on homeland security. However, Congress should adhere to a set of strategic principles tocreate a comprehensive approach to homeland security spending. Toensure adequate spending on homeland security over the long term,Congress will have to address entitlement spending.
The Bush Administration's FY 2005 budget proposal calls for $47.4billion in homeland security funding: approximately 13 percent morethan estimated FY 2004 spending and a significant and appropriategrowth in homeland security expenditures. Most important, theAdministration's funding priorities dovetail well with the criticalmission areas established in the national homeland securitystrategy.
The U.S. has to take actions far away from its shores and bordersin order to ensure that the systems that connect it with the restof the globe cannot be used by terrorists. The Department ofHomeland Security is working to attain this vision and is makingprogress across the board on these and other internationalinitiatives.