U.S. Chamber Supports Administration Homeland Security Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Chamber of Commerce, which has supported the administration's goal to establish a cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security, welcomed Governor Tom Ridge's address to business executives and policy leaders on the president's strategy and its implications for the business community.

"The most important function of the federal government is to protect and defend the American people and our way of life," said Thomas Donohue, U.S. Chamber president and CEO. "But economic security is a critical element of homeland security. The new department must work with the private sector and recognize that the free flow of goods, services, and people is the very heritage we are working to protect."

To address its concerns, the Chamber worked with lawmakers to achieve certain important improvements. Among these were the establishment of a specific office to consider the impact of the agency's regulations and policies on the private sector, safeguards against the disclosure of information on facilities' security measures, protection from frivolous and excessive litigation, and the creation of a board to review emergency rulemakings.

The White House proposal to consolidate homeland security resources under one agency will be the most significant transformation of the U.S. government in more than half a century. It will reorganize and streamline many currently overlapping federal activities that directly relate to the ongoing commerce of our nation, including immigration, transportation, trade, and infrastructure protection.

"Our millions of business and professional members encourage a process that will blend the current patchwork of government programs into a single organization that is cost effective, cohesive, and results focused," Donohue added. "We must ensure, however, that the final structure actually improves government operations and does not stifle our economy."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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A copy of the U.S. Chamber's key vote letter is available online.