Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas recently marked the 20th anniversary of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

The signing of the act paved the way for the development of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, according to a Nov. 25 news release.

"In a bipartisan spirit, members of Congress, President George W. Bush and our first leader, Governor Tom Ridge, conceptualized and championed what would become the Department of Homeland Security," Mayorkas said in the release. "Two decades later, we see more than ever the wisdom of, and need for, our Cabinet-level Department charged with the responsibility to secure the American people, our homeland and our values." 

He commented they are particularly grateful to "those who built DHS, out partners who keep our communities and country safe and the nearly 250,000 DHS employees who carry out our mission every day," the release reported.