Today, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar hailed the Congressional passage of H.R. 1, Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, which makes air travel safer, improves screening cargo at our ports, protects America from weapons of mass destruction, and helps end terrorism.

“Today, we are sending to the President’s desk one of the most critical bills of the 110th Congress – strong, comprehensive legislation that will make America safer by enacting the recommendations of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission,” said Congressman Cuellar.

Congressman Cuellar, who serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response, was appointed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to serve as a conferee to H.R.1, a conference made up of a select group of members of Congress who worked to implement the recommendations.

“I know there are many issues facing our country, but there is nothing more important than making sure that all Americans feel safe in this country. And this is exactly what this bill does - it restores a sense of security to all Americans,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Having two major airports in my district and the fourth largest trade port in the nation, I know first hand how important it is for my constituents to feel safe at all times.”

The bill also provides assistance to first responders by establishing a stand-alone communications interoperability grant program at the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that fire-fighters and police can communicate with each other in an emergency.

Other key provisions in the Congress-passed bill include:

• Homeland Security Grants: The bill ensures that homeland security grants will be allocated primarily on risk basis. The Department of Homeland Security will determine the funding that each state receives.

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• Visa Waiver Program: The measure requires the Department of Homeland Security to establish an Electronic Travel Authorization system to prescreen individual Visa Waiver Program travelers against watchlists and other databases before they are approved for visa-free travel.

• Aviation Security: The bill expands the screening of cargo on passenger aircraft by establishing a system for phasing in the inspection of 100 percent of cargo carried on passenger aircraft over the next three years. It also provides more funding for critical security programs.

• Seaport Security: The measure requires that within five years, 100 percent of seaborne containers bound for the United States be scanned before leaving foreign ports.

• Preventing Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction: The measure includes several provisions to take more aggressive steps to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction.

• Intelligence and Information Sharing with Local Law Enforcement: The measure strengthens state and local agencies “fusion” centers, which have been established to gather, analyze and disseminate potentially homeland security-relevant information to appropriate state and local officials. It also strengthens the presence of federal agencies, such as the Border Patrol, at fusion centers and also improves the Department of Homeland Security’s Information Sharing Programs.

“As we near the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our country, I applaud my colleagues in Congress for implementing these recommendations,” said Congressman Cuellar.

In January, H.R.1 was the first bill of the 110th Congress passed by the House.

Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the House Homeland Security, Small Business, and Agriculture Committees in the 110th Congress; accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic development and national security are his priorities. Congressman Cuellar is also a Senior Whip.

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