Early detection key to safeguarding America

A hearing on “One year later: Implementing the bio-surveillance requirements of the 9/11 act” before the Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology Subcommittee. Chairman James R. Langevin (D-R.I.) said that the threat of biological attack is real and wanted to address one of the ‘most glaring vulnerabilities’ facing America.

According to Langevin, the 9/11 act authorizes the National Biosurveillance Integration Center (NBIC) and requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit a report to Congress describing federal, state and local biosurveillance efforts. He noted that the keys to stopping an attack from turning into a catastrophe were early detection, identification, tracking and response.

Robert Hooks, deputy assistant for weapons of mass destruction and biodefense from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Eric Myers, director of NBIC from DHS, issued a joint statement and said that America’s first indication of a bioterrorist attack would be through early detection and warning systems such as BioWatch and the NBIC. Hooks and Myers noted that a ‘comprehensive biosurveillance capability’ could minimize the impact and the duration of an attack.

William Jenkins, Jr., director of homeland security and justice issues from the GAO, said that the DHS had made efforts to make NBIC completely operational by September 30 but it remains unclear what operations the center will be capable of at that point in time. In addition, Jenkins emphasized the importance of improving the technology used by the BioWatch program.

Reduced Medicaid funding may diminish emergency response

The Congressional Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held the second of a two-day hearing on “the impact of the Administration’s Medicaid regulations on the ability of our nation’s emergency rooms to respond to a sudden influx of casualties from a terrorist attack,” said Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA). Waxman said that based on the first hearing, he was concerned about trauma centers that have “little or no surge capacity.” He said that the Bush Administration’s plans to cut Medicaid funding for hospitals would make trauma centers even more incapable of responding to a large-scale emergency situation similar to Hurricane Katrina, the Minneapolis bridge collapse, the Madrid train bombings, or other potential threats.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt agreed with the Chairman that emergency response system was inadequate, but said that Medicaid funding was not the correct tool with which to fix the problem. He said that Medicaid’s first priority is to provide health care for “low-income seniors, children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities,” and not to support institutions. He said that Medicaid “should not become a limitless account for State and local programs and agencies to draw Federal funds for non-Medicaid purposes,” and that “allowing for the continuation of abusive practices of shifting costs to the Federal government is not the appropriate way to ensure our nation’s preparedness.”

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff agreed with Leavitt, and said that there is no guarantee that Medicaid funds would be spent on emergency response.

CAP panel discusses the "State of Homeland Security"

The Center for American Progress held a discussion today on “The State of Homeland Security” with guest speaker Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), the first ever Democratic chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. A panel discussion with other guests who are knowledgeable about homeland security followed his remarks.

Thompson outlined eight primary challenges that the Department of Homeland Security faces, including an effective border protection plan, an adequate budget, chemical security measures, communication with small companies and various departments, employee diversity, stabilizing management, reducing reliance on contractors, and maintaining national security without infringing on civil rights. He stated that there are currently 86 subcommittees with jurisdiction over the DHS, which is “too many” to maintain efficiency. Thompson called for bipartisan solutions to these problems, stressing that “when the bad people show up,” meaning terrorists, they are not going to ask about party affiliations.

Panelist Philip Crowley, CAP director of homeland security, explained growing pressure on the DHS to not only prevent attacks on the U.S., but also to anticipate and respond to natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina. He also said that the notion of a “War on Terror” should be retired because it is misleading and cannot be successfully waged or won. He noted that at the federal level, America spends twice as much defending Iraq than its own country and ten times more on offense than defense.

Congress assesses progress of U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Today the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight of the House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing to assess the progress of the Department of Homeland Security since it was instated in 2003, and to establish the organization’s goals for the future. Norman Rabkin, managing director for the Government Accountability Office’s Homeland Security and Justice Team, determined that while the organization has made significant developments in achieving its mission of protecting the United States from terrorist attacks, its managerial functions still need focus and improvement.

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) asked about the reportedly low rate of minority employees in the DHS, to which DHS Deputy Under Secretary for Management Elaine Duke replied that the organization is taking initiatives to increase the number. Clarke also emphasized the DHS’s underdevelopment, comparing it to an infant still learning to focus its eyes.

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) called for more effective management of procurement operations and contracts, yet said that it needs more consolidated Congressional support because it currently reports to 86 committees and subcommittees, resulting in “conflicting guidance for the department.” Duke reiterated that the organization is moving towards these goals, and is still in the developmental phase as is normal for an organization that is only 5 to 7 years old.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff testifies before the House Committee on Homeland Security over the FY2009 budget.

Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) opened the hearing today outlining his national security goals. He said that he wants to enhance security for all modes of transportation, shield the nation's critical infrastructure from terrorism, implement border and port security, and inspire minds for the future of Homeland Security. Thompson issued criticisms of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) FY2009 Budget saying that it failed to address mass transit rail concerns. He also criticized the budget for cutting funding from certain grant programs, including an initiative to fund local governments' security programs.

Ranking member of the Committee Peter King (R-NY) commended DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff for his work at the department and said that he acknowledges that the U.S. has not been attacked since September 11th, 2001 as a result of the phenomenal work and progress of the DHS. He said that he had some criticisms of the budget but said that he does not criticize Chertoff's leadership. He told Chertoff that the more time he spends testifying before committees is less time that he can spend protecting the homeland.

DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff called the department's $50.5 billion budget “sound and fiscally responsible.” The figure represented a 6.8% increase over the 2008 budget. Chertoff said that the nation needs a robust and effective Homeland Security Department that acts with a “strong fist” but said that it also needs to be able to adapt to evolving global threats. He warned that Europe was in danger from terrorist attack and cited several recently foiled terror plots in Germany and Spain. He said that 294 miles of fencing has been built so far along the border with Mexico and said that the budget asks for $3.5 billion to hire and train border patrol agents. He also said that the budget asks for funds to build an effective emergency response system including $164.5 million for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) initiatives.