Arlington, Va. – Dave McCurdy, president of the Electronic Industries Alliance, today applauded the Bush Administration’s plan to form a cabinet-level Homeland Security Department and said the technology industry stands ready to provide innovative solutions in the nation’s ongoing effort to protect itself from domestic attack.

McCurdy said:

“I applaud President Bush for his proposal to make Homeland Security a cabinet-level department. Giving one office the organizational control and oversight necessary to streamline information and agencies is essential to promoting real reform and coordination in the intelligence community and to preventing domestic attack.

“As a former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, I am well aware of the challenges of information-sharing between agencies. Better communication within the intelligence community is long overdue. Turf battles over information ownership are petty problems we can ill afford, and consolidation is a step in the right direction.

“As Governor Tom Ridge said recently at EIA’s Spring Conference, ‘the tech sector will play a critical role in homeland security strategy.’ We at EIA couldn’t agree more. We stand ready to provide homeland security solutions – from communications technology and border security to smart ID cards, the technology industry is at the forefront of any national security strategy. We look forward to working with the new Department of Homeland Security as a vital partner in the war against terrorism.”