WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, released the following statement in anticipation of President Bush signing the Homeland Security Spending Bill into law.

"The Homeland Security Spending Bill that President Bush signed today fails to close dangerous loopholes that leave Americans vulnerable to another terrorist strike.  It proves once again that this Administration and the Republican Congress put the financial interests of the chemical, shipping, and airline industries above urgently needed security upgrades that would keep Americans safe.  Specifically:

"The bill fails to include strong chemical security requirements to protect Americans from a terrorist attack at chemical facilities in our country.  There are nightclubs in New York City that are harder to get into than some of our chemical plants, and this bill does nothing to fix the problem.  

"The bill does not contain a mandate that all of the billions of pounds of cargo carried on passenger planes every year be screened before it is placed onboard.  The bill signed by President Bush today does not provide the needed funding for the purchase and installation of advanced explosive detection equipment at airports.  This is another example of Republicans nickel-and-diming homeland security while writing a blank check for the War in Iraq.   

"While underfunding bomb detectors at airports, the bill also artificially caps the number of airport screeners that can be hired, so we have the worst of both worlds:  Republicans refuse to invest the needed funds in explosive detection equipment while they also cap the number of screeners regardless of security needs.

"Republicans talk tough on terror, but then work closely with the industry to enact weak security measures that put Americans at risk.  Our country needs a new direction to ensure that these and other security loopholes are closed and Americans are protected from terrorists determined to inflict another devastating attack on our country.  Republicans are providing our nation with homeland INSECURITY, rather than the real security that Americans deserve."