"I wish to state my promise that I will do everything in my power to use the office of the secretary to keep the Department focused on all six of its critical missions outlined in the National Strategy for Homeland Security. They include: (1) Intelligence and Warning, (2) Border and Transportation Security, (3) Domestic Counterterrorism, (4) Protecting Critical Infrastructure and Key Assets, (5) Defending Against Catastrophic Threats, and (6) Emergency Preparedness and Response. "While each of these missions is unique, each is essential to our primary mission of protecting the security of the United States. Some, such as Emergency Preparedness and Response, have long played key roles in helping society overcome hardship and emergencies; while others are byproducts of the harsh reality that terrorism can strike on our soil.... the future employees of the Department of Homeland Security will be doing the same job in the new Department that they are doing today. The difference is that the new structure of the Department will refocus, consolidate and reorganize the functions of each of the 22 agencies involved in protecting the homeland. (DHS, The Nomination of The Honorable Tom Ridge to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, January 19, 2003)