Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) chaired a hearing of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee today to discuss the fiscal year 2004 budget needs for the Department of Homeland Security. Secretary Tom Ridge testified before the subcommittee.

Senator Cochran commended Secretary Ridge for the coordinated effort with Congress in establishing the Department of Homeland Security and pledged that the Subcommittee would work to provide the necessary resources to ensure that our homeland is safe and Americans protected. The Senator questioned the Secretary about the status of Operation Liberty Shield which was implemented to protect against retaliatory attacks while America was at war with Iraq, and whether or not the Department had enough funds to reimburse state and local governments for their contribution during that operation. The Senator also asked about the allocation of funds for first responders, the formula for distributing funds to high threat urban areas, the status of integrating "watch lists" of potential terrorists and when that information might be shared with state and local law enforcement, and the status of streamlining intelligence from the various agencies in order to be better prepared to counter the threats to our country.

Senator Cochran's opening statement and Q&A with the witness will be available after 3:00 p.m. (Eastern) on the Senator's voicemail news line and on the Senator's web site at www.senate.gov/~cochran . You may record these statements as needed for newscasts or news stories.

Cochran News Line: Call our toll-free number and follow these instructions to access the news line: 1-800-545-1267

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Beth Day, Press Secretary: (202) 224-6404