Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

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Mr. President, I rise today to join with my colleague, Senator DIANNE FEINSTEIN of California and other of our distinguished colleagues in introducing The Homeland Security FORWARD Funding Act of 2005.

I would like to thank Senator Feinstein for her collaboration in crafting this legislation. I know that she has thoughtfully examined the current state of our Homeland Security Funding and the many other interrelated issues, and I thank her for her fine leadership as we work together exploring ways to better protect our country.

We say it often, and it is true: ``9/11 changed everything.'' The attacks of that day were unprecedented in our history, and they brought with them the need for similarly unprecedented security measures. In an effort to respond quickly to the devastation that was wrought upon our country, the Federal Government created a system that worked to raise overall national emergency preparedness to ensure we could better guard against another such terrorist attack.

And so we embarked on the task of shoring up our airline, transportation, border, and port security. We worked to protect our critical infrastructure, to protect our cyber security, our agriculture and food supply systems.

But taxpayer dollars are not limitless, and Congress must work to ensure every penny be directed where it will do the most good. It is imperative that we guard the places across our nation where terrorists may strike and where such strikes could do the most damage to our people, our government, and our national economy. We believe this is the most responsible way to prepare for any future terrorist attack.

We need to have a system that will protect our most vulnerable population centers, and that recognizes the need to protect the critical infrastructure and vital components of our national economy. I am reminded of a recent tour I took of several Texas seaports. I visited with port directors, industry leaders, and emergency responders in and around the ports of Houston, Beaumont, and Corpus Christi. They have enormous security needs and the consequences of a terrorist attack on any of these facilities would be devastating, not only to the local communities, but to the economic engine of the whole country.

The legislation that Senator Feinstein and I now propose would require that Federal Homeland Security funds be allocated to states according to a risk-based assessment. It is vital that we better allocate our limited resources to the vulnerable places in the country we most need to protect, and that that these funds are distributed in an efficient and timely manner.

Senator Feinstein and I have evaluated the 9/11 Commission recommendations that call for allocation of money based on vulnerabilities, and our legislation provides for a distribution formula for homeland security grants based on three main criteria: Threat, vulnerability, and consequence. This would require states to quickly pass on federal funds to where they are most needed. This bill is inspired by the hard work and examination done on this issue by our colleagues in the House and Senate. We have also taken input from stakeholders in our respective States and from across the country. It is our hope and intention that by introducing this bill we can contribute and enrich the public discourse on this critical issue and help move the Nation toward a more rational and effective distribution of our homeland security resources.

Key provisions of this bill include: establishing a First Responder Grant Board, consisting of Department of Homeland Security leadership, that will rank and prioritize grant applications based on threat and vulnerability. Enabling a region that encompasses more than one State to apply for funds. The money would still pass through the States, but would go to the region to better enable coordination and planning. Provides greater flexibility in using the funds, allowing a State to use them for other hazards consistent with federally established capability standards. And it allows States to retain authority to administer grant programs, but there are penalties for States that do not pass funds to local governments within 45 days, and if a State fails to pass the funds through, local governments may petition the Department of Homeland Security to receive the funds directly.

Continuing to spread Homeland Security funds throughout the Nation irrespective of the actual risk to particular States and communities would be to ignore much of what we have learned as part of our effort to assess our vulnerabilities since the attacks of September 11. So I would urge that we swiftly work to pass this legislation, to better ensure the safety of our citizens.

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