Denver, Colorado - While today marks the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's third birthday, there is no reason to celebrate. While the department was created after the September 11 attacks to reorganize the federal bureaucracy to better prevent terrorist attacks, a new report shows that Republicans in Washington have failed to provide the resources needed to keep Americans safe.

The report, entitled "The State of Homeland Security, 2006: An Annual Report Card on the Department of Homeland Security" grades the Bush Administration's record on:

-Port Security (C-/D+)
-Aviation Security (C+)
-Surface Transportation Security (C-)
-Border Security (C-)
-Emergency Preparedness / Response (D)
-Chemical Plant Security (C-)
-Critical Physical Infrastructure Protection (D-)
-Information Sharing (C-)
-First Responder Interoperable Communications (B-)
-Biosecurity (Incomplete)
-Watchlists (D)
-Procurement/Management of Taxpayer Funds (D)

Here in Colorado, Republican budget cuts have dramatically undercut local homeland security efforts. Just last month, President Bush proposed a budget that would slash funding for first responders and eliminate the Local Law Enforcement Grant program, which provided $6.47 million worth of training and equipment to Colorado law enforcement agencies.

"Three years after the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, Colorado's Republicans in Washington have failed to provide the resources needed to keep Coloradoans safe," said Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak. "Colorado Republican Congressional Members are still operating in a pre-September 11 mindset in which tax breaks for their special interests are more important than providing the funding needed to equip Colorado's first responders or protect our critical infrastructure.

"Together, America can do better. Democrats understand that homeland security begins with hometown security. In these dangerous times, we have to act now to protect our people from terrorist attacks. While Colorado's Democrats have fought to provide new resources for our first responders and tighten security at our ports and borders, Republicans in Washington have adopted a dangerous 'wait and see' attitude that undermines our security. It is time for Colorado's Republicans to join Democrats in fighting to make America stronger and safer."

The full report, "The State of Homeland Security, 2006: An Annual Report Card on the Department of Homeland Security," will be available at:

http://hsc-democrats.house.gov after 3:00 PM ET today.

The following is a fact sheet on Republican Members of Congress's consistent failure to strengthen homeland security:

Colorado Republicans Musgrave, Tancredo, Hefley, and Beauprez Voted For Tax Cuts For Wealthy Over Homeland Security. The vote denied an attempt to slightly reduce the recent tax cuts for people earning more than $1 million a year in order to increase homeland security funding by $1 billion. A report by the Council on Foreign Relations found "the United States remains dangerously ill prepared to handle a catastrophic attack on American soil and that America will fall approximately $98.4 billion short of meeting critical emergency responder needs over the next five years if current funding levels are maintained. An effort to block the funding increase passed, 222-200. (Associated Press, 6/25/03; Council on Foreign Relations, "Emergency Responders: Drastically Underfunded, Dangerously Unprepared," 6/29/03)[HR2555 6/24/2003 Vote# 305]

Colorado Republicans Musgrave, Tancredo, Hefley, and Beauprez Voted Against Fully Funding Counterterrorism Efforts. The vote opposed an amendment to the Intelligence funding bill to increase funding for counterterrorism programs - exact budgets for intelligence are classified. Proponents of the increase argued the underlying bill would authorize less than one-third of the money needed in fiscal 2005 for counterterrorism. The increase was defeated 197-224 even as a GOP-written report attached to the bill argued that the human intelligence program is at least five years from being "viable" and "continues down a road leading over a proverbial cliff." (CQ Weekly, 6/26/04) [HR4548 6/23/2004 Vote# 299]

Colorado Republicans Musgrave, Tancredo, Hefley, and Beauprez Voted Against $284 Million Boost To Plug Gaping Holes In Nation's Borders. The vote was against an effort to add $284 million to an emergency spending bill for securing the nation's borders. The 9/11 Commission highlighted that the United States lacked a true border security system, and that illegal entry across our borders was far too easy. The added funding would have hired 550 additional border patrol agents and 200 additional immigration investigators. Finally, the proposal would have provided funding for unmanned border aerial vehicles, which have been used successfully in a test in Arizona to assist in surveillance. Former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Loy testified that unmanned aerial vehicles had proved "invaluable." The motion failed, 201-225. [HR1268 5/5/2005 Vote# 160]

Colorado Republicans Musgrave, Hefley, and Beauprez Opposed Comprehensive Approach To Homeland Security. The vote was against an alternative Homeland Security Authorization proposal that would commit $41 billion to securing the nation from terrorist threats - $6.9 billion more than the President's budget. The proposal contained $28.4 billion for border and transportation security, immigration processing, and other security functions -- $4 billion more than the President's budget. It required chemical facilities to conduct vulnerability assessments, and to make security enhancements based on the assessment, and mandated that 100% of cargo carried on passenger planes be physically inspected for explosives or other dangerous materials within three years. Furthermore, the proposal addressed the holes in securing the nation's ports by requiring DHS to develop container security standards, integrate container security pilot projects, and examine ways to integrate container inspection equipment and data. Currently DHS, has three very similar container security pilot projects that are not coordinated in any fashion, resulting in wasted money and redundant efforts. Finally, the plan required DHS to conduct a study of the risk factors associated with the port of Miami and ports in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, including the U.S. Virgin Islands. The alternative plan failed, 196-230. Congressman Tancredo was absent. (Committee on Homeland Security Minority Office, http://www.house.gov/hsc/democrats/) [HR1817 5/18/2005 Vote# 187]

Colorado Republicans Voted Against Fulfilling 9/11 Commission Recommendations On Border Security & Immigration. The vote was against an alternative proposal to improve border security and immigration enforcement by fulfilling the 9/11 Commission's border security recommendations. On December 5, 2005 the 9/11 Commission issued its final report card that highlighted the many failures of the Republican Congress and Administration in implementing the commission's recommendations. As Chairman Thomas Kean and Vice Chairman Lee Hamilton said in a joint statement on December 5, "There is so much more to be done...Many obvious steps that the American people assume have been completed have not been...Some of these failures are shocking...We are frustrated by the lack of urgency about fixing these problems." The alternative proposal would have hired more border agents, ended the "catch and release" practice by authorizing 100,000 additional detention beds and incorporated state-of-the art surveillance technology, including cameras, sensors, radar, satellites, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in order to ensure 100% border coverage. (Reps. Conyers, Thompson and Reyes Dear Colleague, "Fulfilling the 9/11 Commission's Recommendations," 12/16/05) [HR4437 12/16/2005 Vote# 660]