Marking the 10th anniversary of legislation enacting 9/11 Commission recommendations, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson
(D-MS) highlighted progress in shoring up national security — and mandates that have not been fully implemented.
Thompson, the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said passage of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 directed the federal government and homeland security partners to take “critical actions” that have changed how the homeland is protected.
“Although we don’t always see the impact in our daily lives, every aspect of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) diverse mission has been affected, modified and improved,” Thompson said. “Grants supporting our local first responders are now based on risk, fusion centers where intelligence is shared with local first responders operate across the country, 100 percent of air cargo on passenger planes is screened, first responder interoperable communications have significantly improved and the visa waiver program was reformed to prevent it from being exploited by terrorists.”
Still, Thompson noted, some of the bill’s mandates have not been fully implemented. There needs to be a biometric exit system in place, 100 percent scanning of all maritime cargo and an operational Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, he said.
“We knew that full implementation was not going to be a simple task, still, we came together to pass H.R. 1 into law to keep faith with the American people and improve the safety and security of the country,” Thompson said. “Two successive administrations have endeavored to make progress on these critical mandates. The Trump administration and Congress should take this moment to reflect on all that has been accomplished and what, working together, still needs to be done. This year and going forward, I hope that DHS continues its work on ensuring that the law is followed and fully enacted as soon as possible.”