PRAISES INCLUSION OF INCREASED RISK BASED FUNDING; IMPROVED EMERGENCY COMMUNCATION FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) today voted to make our nation safer by implementing the unfulfilled recommendations of the 9/11 Commission on improving homeland security, preventing terrorists from acquiring WMD, and developing strategies for preventing the spread of Islamic terrorism.

“This landmark legislation includes many long overdue steps to substantially improve our security.  Our first responders will be better prepared, our ports and other critical infrastructure will be better protected, our borders will be harder to enter, terrorists will confront greater difficulty in obtaining nuclear material, and our aviation will be better defended.”

Rep. Pascrell, who served as the lead Democrat on the Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee in the previous session of Congress was particularly pleased that the bill included two domestic priorities critical to the preparedness and response capabilities of our first responders.  

Title I of the legislation would substantially increase the share of homeland security grants that are provided to states based on risk and threat.  The new grant allocation will make more funds available to New Jersey, the home of a two mile stretch between Port Elizabeth and Newark Liberty Airport that many terrorism experts consider to be the most dangerous two miles in America.  

“This bill will substantially increase the share of homeland security grants provided to states based on actual security risk.  I have long said that the current system of distributing grant funding is fundamentally broken.  Terrorists are not arbitrary in selecting their targets; we cannot be arbitrary in protecting our nation.  This bill creates a far more deliberate and intelligent approach securing America.”

Title II improves the emergency communication capabilities of first responders by establishing an emergency communications grant program at the Department of Homeland Security.  In July of 2006, Rep. Pascrell co-authored legislation that would elevate the Department of Homeland Security’s interoperability focus by establishing new Office of Emergency Communications; facilitate the development of standards for new interoperable emergency communications; and require the Department to conduct periodic assessments to determine emergency communication needs.  The legislation passed with overwhelming support by a vote of 414-2.  

“In an era when information can be sent instantaneously anywhere in the world, it is utterly nonsensical that our nation’s police, fire and EMS personnel cannot consistently communicate with each other.  This bill is a giant leap forward in connecting the emergency communication network shared by our first responders.”

In addition the bill includes a number of long-overdue steps to substantially improve homeland security, including:

• Phasing in a requirement of 100% inspection of the cargo carried on passenger aircraft over the next three years (most of this cargo is still not inspected);
• Quickly accelerating the installation of explosive detection systems for checked baggage at the nation’s airports;
• Improving explosive detection systems at passenger checkpoints at the nation’s airports; and
• Phasing in a requirement of 100% scanning of U.S.-bound shipping containers over the next five years.

The bill also includes provisions to better prevent terrorists from acquiring WMD, such as:

• Strengthening the Cooperative Threat Reduction (“Nunn-Lugar”) program that focuses on securing loose nuclear materials in the former Soviet Union;
• Providing increased tools for the Proliferation Security Initiative, through which the U.S. and participating countries interdict WMD; and
• Establishing a U.S. Coordinator for the Prevention of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism at the White House, who would serve as a presidential advisor on proliferation issues.

Finally, the bill also includes provisions to reduce the appeal of extremism, including:

• Providing for the establishment of a Middle East Foundation, to promote economic opportunities, education reform, human rights and democratic processes in the countries of the Middle East; and
• Promoting quality educational opportunities for youth in Arab and other predominantly Muslim countries, including expanding U.S. scholarship and exchange programs.

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