Beauprez, Musgrave and Tancredo have explaining to do

Denver - With Bob Beauprez, Marilyn Musgrave and Tom Tancredo wrapping up their "work" in Washington this week, Coloradoans are left to wonder what they have accomplished. The answer: not much. Indeed, they have completely ignored the most critical problems facing Colorado and the United States.

The litany of failures for this Republican Congress is long, but nowhere is it more glaring than the area of homeland security. "The Republican Congress is set to adjourn for the campaign season despite doing nothing to make our country more secure," said Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak. "They have provided no oversight of the President's Iraq strategy and have done nothing to implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations or make America energy independent."

"Over and over again, our Republican congressional delegation put the interests of their party ahead of the interests of our country. Bob Beauprez has a lot of explaining to do. Marilyn Musgrave has a lot of explaining to do. Tom Tancredo has a lot of explaining to do. Voters are ready for a change."

GOP Opposed Democratic Proposals To Keep America Safe

Democrats have repeatedly tried to implement measures to make the United States safer. Here are several examples, including how the Colorado Republican delegation voted:

* Democrats Fought for Aviation Security; Republicans Blocked Effort To Increase Funding. For example, Democrats offered a motion to recommit the FY 2006 Homeland Security Authorization with instructions to authorize $400 million more in FY 2006 for in-line checked baggage screening system installations as well as to require that all air cargo on passenger planes be screened within three years. [2005 Senate Vote #180, 7/14/05; 2005 House Vote #188, 5/18/05] Reps. Beauprez and Musgrave voted against this motion. Rep. Tancredo did not vote.

* Democrats have repeatedly tried to increase investments in port security. For example, Democrats offered an amendment to the FY 2006 Supplemental Appropriations bill to increase port security funding by $825 million. The amendment included $400 million to place radiation portal monitors at all U.S. ports of entry. [2006 House Vote #56, 3/16/06] Reps. Beauprez, Musgrave and Tancredo all opposed the amendment.

* Democrats Fought for First Responders; Republicans Blocked Effort To Increase Funding. For example, Democrats offered a motion to recommit the FY 2003 Continuing Appropriations bill to add provisions ensuring $3.5 billion in new money for the nation's first responders. The President had requested only $1 billion in new money for first responders in his FY 2003 budget. [2003 House Vote #16, 1/28/03] Reps. Beauprez, Musgrave and Tancredo all voted against the motion.

* House Democrats have also tried to increase investments in border security. For example, Democrats offered a motion to recommit the conference report on FY 2005 Supplemental Appropriations bill with instructions to add $284 million to fund an additional 550 Border Patrol agents, an additional 200 immigration agents, and unmanned border aerial vehicles. [2005 House Vote #160, 5/5/05] Reps. Beauprez, Musgrave and Tancredo all opposed the motion.

* Democrats Fought for Rail and Transit Security. House Democrats have also repeatedly fought to increase rail and transit security investments. For example, Democrats offered a substitute to the FY 2006 Homeland Security Authorization bill. This substitute included key provisions to bolster rail and transit security - including a three-year $2.8 billion grant program to improve transit security and a three-year $1 billion program to improve rail security. [2005 House Vote #188, 5/18/05] Reps. Beauprez and Musgrave voted against the substitute. Rep. Tancredo did not vote.

GOP Failed To Implement 9/11 Commission Recommendations

The Republican Congress has egregiously failed to implement the recommendations of the Bipartisan 9/11 Commission. The Commission's Chairman and Vice Chairman both agree that the country is not as safe as it should be.

* 9/11 COMMISSIONER THOMAS KEAN: "We're Not As Safe As We Should Be." In an interview on Meet the Press, Kean said, "When you and I go to the airport, there still is not a unified watch list. There should be. We should know everybody who's getting on that plane. If any agency has any problems with them, they shouldn't be allowed to get on the plane... We still haven't got the proper technology for screening baggage...The Congress simply has not given the agency dollars to put those things into effect. But those are major steps that no should be taken at the airports. Until they're done, we're not as safe as we should be." ["Meet the Press", NBC, 8/13/06]

* 9/11 COMMISSIONER LEE HAMILTON: "We Are Not As Safe As We Should Be." In an interview on Meet the Press, Hamilton said "I'm still nervous about it [the possibility of an attack]. I think we are not as safe as we should be five years after the event." ["Meet the Press", NBC, 8/13/06]

It's time for Reps. Beauprez, Musgrave and Tancredo to explain their records on homeland security. The country cannot afford their inaction any longer.