Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
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	Press Releases September 04, 2003   SENATORS QUESTION DHS DECISION TO THROW OPEN VITAL IMMIGRATION FUNCTIONS TO THE LOWEST BIDDER Criticize choice to “prioritize the Administration’s outsourcing agenda” over pressing homeland security needs   WASHINGTON - A group of thirty-four Senators Thursday urged Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge to reconsider a recent decision to subject the jobs of Immigration Information Officers (IIOs) to competition with private contractors. The Senators opposed the move, part of the Bush Administration’s drive to privatize work performed by federal employees, because it could potentially compromise the nation’s security and cause yet more delays in the immigration process. “The decision to subject these jobs to possible privatization would have been objectionable enough prior to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It defies belief in their wake,” wrote the Senators. “Considering the President’s repeatedly-stated intention to provide more efficient services for lawful immigrants, we believe that the last thing the Department of Homeland Security should do is to replace knowledgeable immigration professionals with contract employees.” Senator Byrd, Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittee on Appropriations on Homeland Security, said: “This outsourcing initiative is yet another example of the Administration allowing private corporate interests to trump the larger interests of the American people. The safety of the American people should not be dictated by a for-profit business bottom line.” "Immigration Information Officers are highly skilled professionals responsible for an enormously complicated business. Outsourcing these jobs to contract employees raises serious concerns, not only with respect to the integrity of the immigration adjudication process, but also with respect to accountability and efficiency. The immigration services agency is still reeling from the drastic changes it has undergone in the last year,” said Senator Kennedy, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship. “Outsourcing immigration information officers will worsen the situation for individual applicants, their families and their employers, and more importantly, could jeopardize our security.” “It would be short-sighted and wrong to subject these jobs to possible privatization. These workers screen immigration applications for fraud and perform background checks on applicants. They help keep our nation secure, and we should be thanking them, not replacing them,” said Senator Leahy, Ranking member of the Judiciary Committee. “I am deeply troubled that Secretary Ridge would consider sidelining these experienced, well trained and knowledgeable employees at a time when they are needed most. As threats to our security grow, Secretary Ridge should be focused on uniting his team at the new department, not undermining it through costly competition,” said Joe Lieberman, Ranking Member of the Governmental Affairs Committee. This letter was signed by: Senators Joseph I. Lieberman, Patrick J. Leahy, Robert C. Byrd, Edward M. Kennedy, Frank Lautenberg, Harry Reid, Patty Murray, Daniel K. Akaka, Barbara A. Mikulski, Christopher J. Dodd, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Jeff Bingaman, James M. Jeffords, Richard J. Durbin, John Edwards, Thomas R. Carper, Russell D. Feingold, Mark Pryor, Maria Cantwell, E. Benjamin Nelson, Jack Reed, Barbara Boxer, Paul S. Sarbanes, Tim Johnson, John F. Kerry, Jon S. Corzine, Ron Wyden, Byron L. Dorgan, Ernest F. Hollings, Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, Dianne Feinstein, Mary L. Landrieu and Blanche L. Lincoln.   ###   Printable Version   Related File(s) (pdf) Lieberman Letter to Ridge (25.3 KBs) « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 September 2003 Press Releases August   |  October   --   2002   |  2004     September 30 - GAC Democrats Seek Directive to Prevent Cover-Up in Investigation Surrounding Disclosure of CIA Agent's Identity   September 29 - Lieberman Demands White House Preserve Records and Cooperate Fully with Investigation into Disclosure of CIA Agent's Identity   September 24 - Administration Unwilling to Fight for Homeland Resources   September 24 - Lieberman Seeks White House Contacts Regarding Global Warming Lawsuit   September 23 - Lieberman, Lautenberg Seek Hearings on No Bid Contracts   September 22 - Lieberman Calls Revised Cost-Benefit Guidelines Immoral Tool to Block Tougher Environmental Protections   September 17 - Lieberman Says Listen to the Mayors: Insufficient Funds are Reaching the Front Lines   September 17 - “US Postal Service: What Can Be Done to Ensure Its Future Viability?”   September 17 - Lieberman Says Homeland Security Will be Forced to Skimp   September 16 - Lieberman Welcomes Terrorist Screening Center Despite Two-Year Delay   September 15 - Lieberman Applauds Overdue Appointment Of Cyber Security Chief   September 12 - Lieberman Calls on Bush To Ensure Fair Bidding on Iraqi Contracts   September 12 - Postal Service Should Assess Security Needs Before Eliminating Security Officers   September 10 - Dodd, Lieberman Announce New London Firefighters to Receive Over $100,000   September 10 - Lieberman Refutes Bush Boast of Greater Homeland Security   September 4 - Lieberman Welcomes DOE Investigation into Spiking Gas Prices   September 4 current Press Release
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Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510