- Concerns Raised Over Inadequate Funding for
Police, Fire and other First-Responders to Terrorist Attacks -
September 3, 2003

Washington DC - At a hearing today of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) addressed deep concern for the underfunding of first-responders such as police, firefighters and emergency medical workers to possibly catastrophic terrorist attacks.

The hearing was held on the Council of Foreign Relations task force report entitled Drastically Underfunded, Dangerously Unprepared, the first systematic attempt to estimate national homeland security needs. The task force, which was chaired by former U.S. Senator Warren Rudman, determined that first responders have unbudgeted needs totaling $100 billion.

Senator Feinstein is the ranking member of the committee, chaired by Senator Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.). Following is her statement:

"Today's hearing on our nation's preparedness for a terrorist attack could not be more timely. I want to thank Chairman Kyl for holding this hearing. I greatly appreciate his assistance and support, as always.

I also would like to acknowledge our distinguished witnesses. Congressman Chris Cox, from my home state of California, and Congressman Jim Turner are two of the leaders in the House on homeland security issues. Also here is former Senator Warren Rudman, who has testified twice before this subcommittee on terrorism issues.

As Senator Kyl said, the hearing is on the Council on Foreign Relations task force report entitled 'Drastically Underfunded, Dangerously Unprepared.' The task force is the first systematic attempt to estimate national homeland security needs, and it determined that first responders have unbudgeted needs totaling $100 billion.

In other words, the amount budgeted for first responders for the next five years by federal, state, and local governments is about $100 billion less than the minimum needed by first responders to respond to a catastrophic terrorist attack.

Given this severe underfunding of first responders, the report concludes that 'the United States remains dangerously ill-prepared to handle a catastrophic attack on American soil.' These findings are borne out by other studies as well.

According to a March 2003 analysis by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, cities are spending an additional $70 million per week on personnel costs alone, to keep up with security requirements.

A report conducted by FEMA, in conjunction with the National Fire Protection Administration, found that only one-fourth of all fire departments can communicate with other public first responders safety providers.

According to the Coast Guard, our ports need $1.1 billion for seaport security this year and $5.4 billion during the next 10 years. In spite of this, we all know that the President did not request any money for port security grants or any form of assistance to our ports for Fiscal Year 2003 or for Fiscal Year 2004.

The American Public Transportation Association testified earlier this year that we need $6 billion in transit security, primarily in the areas of communications, surveillance, detection systems, personnel, and training.

And the GAO recently reported that - and I quote - 'insufficient funding is the most significant challenge in making transit systems as safe and secure as possible.' With just 8 of the 10 transit agencies surveyed, the GAO found that $700 million was needed to improve security.

Using data from the Environmental Protection Agency, the GAO has found that 123 chemical facilities across the country, if attacked, could inflict serious damage and expose millions of people to toxic chemicals and gases. There are 3,000 chemical facilities in 49 States that, if attacked, could affect more than 10,000 people each. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that it will cost $80 million just to conduct vulnerability assessments associated with these chemical plants.

We are not even providing enough money to implement a number of recent federal homeland security statutes, such as the USA PATRIOT Act, the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002, the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, and the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.

It is all too clear that there is we are shortchanging the American people by not providing first responders with the funds they need to respond to a catastrophic terrorist attack."

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