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HOMELAND SECURITY
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other federal agencies are failing to give emergency first responders the resources they need in a timely fashion, leaving the nation perilously unprepared for another catastrophic terrorist attack, according to a Council on Foreign Relations study.
"Emergency Responders: Drastically Underfunded, Dangerously Unprepared" urges Congress to require DHS to work with states, cities, and professional emergency responder associations to set formal standards and guidelines for emergency preparedness. Clarke suggests the creation of formulas that quantify funds needed by specific cities to be able to respond to a terrorist attack. DHS spokesman Gordon Johndroe believes the budget figures from the task force are "grossly inflated." House Democrats have argued otherwise. They tried, but failed, to add more money for first responders in DHS's first appropriations bill, which the House passed on June 24. The $29.4 billion spending measure, however, sharply increases DHS's R&D funding to $1.1 billion. More than $900 million of this funding is slotted for DHS's Science & Technology Directorate. This 72.8% increase for the directorate from fiscal 2003 includes a $50 million boost for the development of new antiterrorism technologies and a $25 million hike for university research and fellowship programs. Also included is $60 million in new funds for the development of antimissile devices for commercial aircraft. The Senate has yet to pass a DHS spending bill. |
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