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Bush Signs Homeland Act, Nominates England as Deputy
Monday, November 25, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

"To succeed in their mission, leaders of the new department must change the culture of many diverse agencies, directing all of them toward the principal objective of protecting the American people. The effort will take time and focus and steady resolve."

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
When President Bush signed the Homeland Security Bill into law today, he established a new cabinet-level department to ensure the safety of the American people.

Before Bush signed the bill in a White House ceremony, he announced he will nominate former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge to be the first secretary of Homeland Security. He also said he will nominate Navy Secretary Gordon England to be deputy at the 170,000-worker agency.

The new department will analyze threats, guard borders, coordinate national responses and focus the "full resources of the American government on the safety of its people," Bush said.

The measure passed Congress with bipartisan support. It had been held up because of concerns about a provision that would allow the president to shift workers to areas where they were needed. Critics said the new rules would erode federal civil-service protections. Administration officials said managers needed more flexibility to protect America.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

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