Ridge presents homeland security plan

WASHINGTON - The White House today delivered to Congress its proposal for a new Homeland Security Department in hopes of winning passage on Capitol Hill. Tom Ridge, the White House homeland security chief, brought the measure to leading lawmakers, who are already beginning work on the bill. Ridge said the bill has been modified to address some concerns by removing the Lawrence Livermore national laboratory in California from the new agency's structure and by keeping an FBI computer crime investigative unit out as well.