Office of Homeland Security Essay -- Homeland Security Governmental Es

Office of Homeland Security Just as our parents and grandparents remember where they were and what they were doing when President John F. Kennedy was shot, so will it be with this generation when asked the same questions pertaining to September 11, 2001. This horrific event will be a scar on the body of our wonderful nation until the end of time. Parents lost children, children lost parents, spouses lost their heartmates – so much anguish and emotional devastation demands that something be done to prevent tragedy like this from occurring in the future. This is why President George W. Bush created the Office of Homeland Security. This cabinet-level position was created in lieu of the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and will report directly to the President himself. In an executive order given on October 8, 2001, President Bush stated as follows: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Establishment. I hereby establish within the Executive Office of the President an Office of Homeland Security (the ``Office'') to be headed by the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security. (Boston, sec. 1). The first director of the Office of Homeland Security is a Pennsylvanian Republican, Governor Tom Ridge. â€Å"The post †¦ will be comparable to a domestic variation of the National Security Advisor, said a senior administration official† (Stenger, 2001: screen). Governor Ridge is more than qualified for this illustrious, though sadly needed, position. In the Presidents address to a joint session of Congress and the American people he states that Governor Ridge is â€Å"a military veteran, an effective governor, a true patriot and a trusted friend† (Address, 2001: screen). His military experience includes serving as infantry staff sergeant in Vietnam where he earned the Bronze Star for valor. As the first enlisted Vietnam combat veteran elected to the U.S. House he was re-elected six times (Biography, 2001: screen). As Governor of Pennsylvania he began his term in 1995. Since then he has cut taxes every year in office. His Education Empowerment Act helped more than 250,000 children in the states lowest-performing schools. The Office of Homeland Security has many functions that it will perform to ensure the safety of the... ...21 by the National League of Cities reveals that two-thirds of cities over 100,000 are reassessing their emergency plans, although 83% have a terrorism response plan in place† (Kenworthy, 2001: screen). The largest impact that the Office has on American citizens is, in fact, a greater feeling of togetherness. Works Cited Boston_Liberty. â€Å"Establishing the Office of Homeland Security and the Homeland Security Council – Text of EO.† 10 Oct. 2001. Online Posting. FreeRepublic. 1 Apr. 2002. Kenworthy, Tom. Struggling to Create A Homeland Defense. 8 Oct. 2001. 1 Apr. 2002. Stenger, Richard. Domestic Security Czar to Tame ‘Bowl of Spaghetti.’ 21 Sept. 2001. 1 Apr. 2002. The White House. 1 Apr. 2002. The White House. Sept. 2001. 1 Apr. 2002. The White House. Oct. 2001. 1 Apr. 2002. Office of Homeland Security Essay -- Homeland Security Governmental Es Office of Homeland Security Just as our parents and grandparents remember where they were and what they were doing when President John F. Kennedy was shot, so will it be with this generation when asked the same questions pertaining to September 11, 2001. This horrific event will be a scar on the body of our wonderful nation until the end of time. Parents lost children, children lost parents, spouses lost their heartmates – so much anguish and emotional devastation demands that something be done to prevent tragedy like this from occurring in the future. This is why President George W. Bush created the Office of Homeland Security. This cabinet-level position was created in lieu of the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and will report directly to the President himself. In an executive order given on October 8, 2001, President Bush stated as follows: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Establishment. I hereby establish within the Executive Office of the President an Office of Homeland Security (the ``Office'') to be headed by the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security. (Boston, sec. 1). The first director of the Office of Homeland Security is a Pennsylvanian Republican, Governor Tom Ridge. â€Å"The post †¦ will be comparable to a domestic variation of the National Security Advisor, said a senior administration official† (Stenger, 2001: screen). Governor Ridge is more than qualified for this illustrious, though sadly needed, position. In the Presidents address to a joint session of Congress and the American people he states that Governor Ridge is â€Å"a military veteran, an effective governor, a true patriot and a trusted friend† (Address, 2001: screen). His military experience includes serving as infantry staff sergeant in Vietnam where he earned the Bronze Star for valor. As the first enlisted Vietnam combat veteran elected to the U.S. House he was re-elected six times (Biography, 2001: screen). As Governor of Pennsylvania he began his term in 1995. Since then he has cut taxes every year in office. His Education Empowerment Act helped more than 250,000 children in the states lowest-performing schools. The Office of Homeland Security has many functions that it will perform to ensure the safety of the... ...21 by the National League of Cities reveals that two-thirds of cities over 100,000 are reassessing their emergency plans, although 83% have a terrorism response plan in place† (Kenworthy, 2001: screen). The largest impact that the Office has on American citizens is, in fact, a greater feeling of togetherness. Works Cited Boston_Liberty. â€Å"Establishing the Office of Homeland Security and the Homeland Security Council – Text of EO.† 10 Oct. 2001. Online Posting. FreeRepublic. 1 Apr. 2002. Kenworthy, Tom. Struggling to Create A Homeland Defense. 8 Oct. 2001. 1 Apr. 2002. Stenger, Richard. Domestic Security Czar to Tame ‘Bowl of Spaghetti.’ 21 Sept. 2001. 1 Apr. 2002. The White House. 1 Apr. 2002. The White House. Sept. 2001. 1 Apr. 2002. The White House. Oct. 2001. 1 Apr. 2002.