Editorial: The 9/11 Commission
Washington,
Dec 11, 2005 -
"In the decade before September 11, 2001, border security-encompassing travel, entry, and immigration-was not seen as a national security matter....The immigration system as a whole was widely viewed as increasingly dysfunctional and badly in need of reform. In national security circles, however, only smuggling of weapons of mass destruction carried weight, not the entry of terrorists who might use such weapons or the presence of associated foreign-born terrorists. For terrorists, travel documents are as important as weapons." (emphasis added) To combat this threat, the 9-11 Commission insisted that he "federal government set standards for the issuance of birth certificates and sources of identification, such as drivers' licenses."
-- The 9/11 Commission Report
Following the attacks of September 11th, 2001, a National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9-11 Commission), was created to prepare a full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the terrorist attacks and to provide recommendations designed to guard against future attacks. In the final report, commissioners took pains to point out the great need to improve our
immigration laws. When Congress headed back to Washington, D.C. to vote on the commission's recommendations through the "9-11 Commission Implementation Act," we were presented with an incomplete bill that ignored the vital importance of immigration reform to our national security.
The "9-11 Commission Implementation Act" provided Congress with an opportunity to enact true reform to fight the war on terrorism and I, along with many of my House Republican colleagues, believe that this fight goes hand-in-hand with a need to strengthen border security. After much fighting to keep important immigration measures alive within the 9/11 bill, many of these vital recommendations were stripped, causing me to vote against the final bill. Although the measures included in the 9/11 bill are essential to a much-needed overhaul of our intelligence community, insecure borders create a gaping hole in our national security.
It is a stark reality that our weak immigration laws are the final line of defense in preventing terrorists from setting foot in our country. The decision not to include immigration reform in this package is akin to
installing the finest burglar alarm money can buy on the front door of your house while leaving the back door open to invite terrorists in. Failing to address how we might strengthen one of the weaker links in this chain was shortsighted and Congress was left with an imperfect product that does not do enough to help secure our border.
It is important that we create a national intelligence director and implement many of the changes to the intelligence community. However, Congress has been given the most sacred responsibility to protect and defend this nation. We cannot afford to fight this battle against terrorism with one arm tied
behind our backs.
Many House Republicans, both moderate and conservative, stood up and voted against the "9-11 Commission Implementation Act" to emphasize the importance of immigration reform to our national security. Next year provides another chance for Congress to get it right and enact true immigration reform. It is my hope that the President holds true to his word and we consider separate legislation as soon as possible that addresses border security properly.
As I considered this vote, I remembered the grieving families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks and I could not, in good conscience, face them having voted for a bill that needed do much more to protect our nation. We have a saying in Congress, "Don't let the good be the enemy of the perfect," but when the security of every American is at stake, perfect is the only solution.
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