(WASHINGTON, DC) - Congressman Dennis Moore (Third District - Kansas) today attended official ceremonies at the White House to sign into law the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

“The United States government has an obligation to keep its residents safe and protect them from terrorist threats. This bill creates the Department of Homeland Security and accomplishes that goal by helping maintain safe borders. I am pleased to see Congress and President Bush reach agreement to ensure the security of the American people,” Moore said.

Moore attended the signing today, which commemorates passage of the Homeland Security Act into law. HR 5005 passed the House on November 22, 2002, after Senate approval on November 19.

The Homeland Security Act creates the Department of Homeland Security, which is charged with tasks to combat terrorism on U.S. soil. The bill allows for greater coordination of security measures and modifies the existing border control structure. The Department of Homeland Security will contain the Bureau of Border Security, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Citizenship and Immigrations Services Ombudsman. This reorganization is designed to ease current strains on the immigration and customs system, but reinforce areas of potential weakness.

In addition, the Homeland Security Act also establishes agencies to improve emergency preparedness and response. The bill creates an Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to prevent and investigate any abuses.

“The Department of Homeland Security will improve our nation’s anti-terrorism efforts. Members of Congress labored long and hard with the President to determine the best action to take. While this bill is not perfect, it will make great strides to keep us safe, while preserving our freedoms,” Moore said.

In Congress, Moore has been an advocate of stringent security measures. He supported legislation passed last November to improve airline safety and met in October 2001 with 240 Kansas City area police, fire, health, and emergency preparedness officials to discuss their ability to respond to a regional terrorist attack. After learning that metropolitan officials felt unprepared to protect Kansans, Moore sponsored HR 3255, the Bioterrorism Protection Act, to improve America’s ability to respond to biological attacks.