"As a former Governor, I am keenly aware of the shared responsibility that exists between the federal, state, and local governments for homeland security. In fact, over the past year I have often said that "when our hometowns are secure, our homeland will be secure." That is not merely rhetoric, but a fundamental principle of the nation's homeland security effort". (DHS, The Nomination of The Honorable Tom Ridge to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, January 19, 2003)