STATEMENT BY
U.S. COMMERCE SECRETARY DON EVANS
ON PASSAGE OF HOMELAND SECURITY LEGISLATION
"President
Bush's homeland security legislation passed by Congress today will
have a positive impact not only on the security of our homeland, but
also on our economic security.
"By integrating the Commerce Department's Critical Infrastructure
Assurance Office (CIAO) into the new Department of Homeland Security,
the protection of our cyber infrastructure will be strengthened and
better coordinated between federal agencies and private industry.
"Today's passage of homeland security legislation is an important
step not just for the safety of our citizens, but for the well-being
of America's businesses and workers, and for the well-being of our
free-enterprise system.
"I look forward to working with the new Secretary of Homeland
Security to make this transition successful."