Yesterday, I had the distinct privilege of presenting Senator Joseph Lieberman with the Department of Homeland Security’s Distinguished Service Award, in recognition of his work to strengthen our homeland and his efforts to ensure the safety and security of the American people.
The Department of Homeland Security has a vital mission: to secure the nation from the many threats we face. Our duties are wide-ranging, but our goal is clear - keeping America safe. Senator Lieberman has never lost sight of that.
As a dedicated public servant, Senator Lieberman has always been an important voice and a leading thinker on homeland security issues. Immediately after the attacks on September 11, 2001, he helped establish the 9/11 Commission. Senator Lieberman’s extensive knowledge of existing homeland security efforts and his understanding of how our country was changed on 9/11 made him integral to the creation of DHS the following year.
Thanks in great part to Senator Lieberman’s leadership and commitment to the security of our nation, DHS and the homeland security enterprise have continued to mature and strengthen over the past ten years – and will continue into the future.
I am confident that, in the years to come, Senator Lieberman will continue to contribute and serve in meaningful ways that will have a positive impact on our Nation. On behalf of the Department, I thank him for his leadership and his lifetime of service.