Our National Guard, as I think everybody knows, has provided about 40 percent of the boots on the ground in Iraq and in the conflict against Islamofascism. They went into that battle, being called up for their national security service, short of equipment.

As the Senator from Vermont was kind enough to note, I did have the experience of being commander in chief of our National Guard in Missouri for 8 years.

I pointed out on the floor last year, after Hurricane Katrina, we were very proud that one of our National Guard engineering battalions was called to Louisiana. And they did a magnificent job.

Oregonians aren't the only ones who recognize the extraordinary service and sacrifice of their state's National Guard.

Since the catastrophic terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the National Security Agency/Central Security Service has embarked on a national strategy to expand our foreign language capabilities. We've intensified our recruitment and increased the number of locations where our work can be most efficiently performed.

Our ports are owned by local governments who are responsible for the ports. It is the Coast Guard and Customs that provide security. The federal government will never outsource our security.