At a meeting with local elected officials late last week, President George W. Bush outlined portions of his homeland security agenda, including an initiative to enhance homeland security capabilities by providing for a $3.5 billion block grant to dramatically enhance the homeland security response capabilities of America’s first responders. This is consistent with the NACo Homeland Security Task Force’s recommendation presented in October to Gov. Tom Ridge, director of the White House Office of Homeland Security.

If approved by Congress, the block grant would be administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It would provide $105 million to support state and local governments in developing comprehensive plans to prepare for and respond to a terrorist attack; $2 billion for equipment for “first responder” agencies; $1.1 billion to train firefighters, police/sheriffs and emergency medical technicians to respond and operate in dangerous environments; and $245 million to support a coordinated regular response exercise program.

“We are encouraged by President Bush’s announcement today of a new initiative to provide $3.5 billion in fiscal year 2003 to enhance the homeland security response capabilities of America’s first responders – counties,” said NACo President Javier Gonzales.

“While we are heartened by the initiative, we are concerned, that to fund it, he is not taking away critically needed funds in other domestic programs upon which local governments rely. It would not be prudent to take money away from other programs in order to turn around and provide it back to local governments through another mechanism.”

Gonzales also noted, “It is critically important that the money goes directly to local governments, rather than sent to the states, where it can become mired in the political intrigue that often accompanies large infusions of federal dollars.”

More information on the initiative can be found on the White House Web site at: www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases.