With representatives from already cash-strapped counties in attendance, NACo President Ken Mayfield called on Congress to approve legislation that would provide the $3.5 billion necessary to secure the homeland or the “ … security of our nation and the American people will be in grave danger.”
“In the days that followed the terrorist attacks of September 11, our nation’s leaders spoke with one voice about the need to support our first responders and to fight terrorism at home,” said Mayfield (commissioner, Dallas County) at the press conference. “That voice has shrunk to nothing more than a whisper.”
With state and local revenues shrinking at an unprecedented rate, counties will be hard-pressed to implement new security measures, let alone maintain existing programs, unless there’s a financial boost from Congress, Mayfield said.
“Funding has been provided for technology and equipment for our armed forces in their fight overseas — which should be done,” Mayfield said. “But for our army at home — police officers, sheriffs, fire fighters and public health officers — no money has been made available. It is like sending soldiers into battle without weapons or equipment. What a travesty.”
The press conference came on the heels of the latest meeting of NACo’s Homeland Security Task force. The Task Force reconvened for a daylong meeting to discuss the current state of affairs on the homefront. Task Force members were briefed by Congressional staff as well as staff from the White House, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the new Department of Homeland Security. Members were updated on the status of the new department, interoperability issues, bioterrorism preparedness and local participation.
The underlying theme throughout the day, though, was the need for Congress to pass legislation and get the $3.5 billion to the states and counties.
“It’s important that we continue to do this [to meet] on a regular basis, and you tell us what you have on your minds about homeland security,” said Josh Filler, director, Transition Office for State and Local Government Coordination in the new department. “I know you have funding on your minds right now and just let me tell you that the lack of funding is not for lack of action from the executive branch.”
Filler also said that once available, the funds for first responders would come quickly because the department is working on streamlining the granting process.
Dr. Ed Thompson, deputy director, Public Health Programs and Services at the CDC, pointed out that first responders are not just police, fire and EMS, but in the event of a bioterrorism attack, first responders are also public health department workers. Thompson noted that while the money situation is still bleak, there is a bit of promise because of the dual-use nature of health department funding. Funds for items used in a bioterrorism event can also be used for other events such as a West Nile outbreak.
But it wasn’t all about money. In addition to funding, many of the day’s speakers focused on the need to take a regional approach to homeland security issues. All the speakers expressed the importance that federal entities, be it the CDC or the FBI, work with local authorities.
“What you do in your arena is very important to us,” said Asa Hutchinson, under secretary designee, Department of Homeland Security Border and Transportation Security Division. “We need to keep having these meetings and keep hearing from you and working with the people in the field.”
While the creation of the new Department of Homeland Security may bring many changes for the 177,000 federal employees directly affected, Michael Brown, under secretary designee, Department of Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness and Response Division, or the agency formerly known as FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), said the transition should be seamless for counties and that services will only get better. Brown stressed that agencies such as FEMA will continue to operate in the same fashion, citing, for instance, that the chain of command for a presidential declaration will remain the same.
However, in the end, funding really did seem to be the main focus of the day. Even though all of the speakers offered their efforts to help secure funding for counties and keep the lines of communication open, Brown pointed out that it’s going to take some effort from the counties as well. He emphasized the importance of counties becoming involved in programs such as Citizen Corps, which cost little money and get the community involved. He also stressed the need for counties to put away their self-interests and get down to business, working with each other and their state counterparts.
“I’m going to try and get you all the money that I can and I only ask two things in return,” Brown said. “One, that you spend it wisely and two, that you don’t come to me about how your governor hasn’t given you any money without talking to him first. You can’t sit back ... and wait for the money to come.”
