WASHINGTON, DC-- Senator Susan Collins, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has released the following statement regarding Tom Ridge’s announcement that he will resign as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security;
“Secretary Ridge deserves a great deal of credit for his leadership as our nation’s first Secretary of Homeland Security.
“Creation of this Department was a huge undertaking as Homeland Security was the largest department to be created in five decades. Secretary Ridge took on this task with strong leadership and the vision to make Americans safer. He should be particularly commended for successfully working to increase cooperation among federal, state, and local homeland security officials and first responders. He greatly improved the communication with those who are on the front lines in the event of an attack and strengthened the preparedness of communities throughout America.
“As chair of the Committee that has oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, I have enjoyed working closely with Secretary Ridge. I wish him the best and thank him for his service.”
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