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July 16, 2005
Homeland Bill Strengthens America's Security, Byrd Says
by HNN Staff
Washington, DC (HNN) --U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-WV, the leading Democratic member of the Senate Appropriations Homeland Security panel, has helped to shepherd legislation through the Senate that will help to protect the lives of West Virginians and all Americans from terrorist attack.
"This legislation closes gaps on our borders. It puts new resources for training and equipment in the hands of our police officers and firefighters and emergency medical teams. It increases our commitment to securing air cargo and our seaports," Byrd said.
The West Virginia lawmaker helped to craft the legislation, approved late Thursday, July 14, 2005 by the Senate by a vote of 96 to one.
"The United States cannot continue to look backwards, to guard against the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We must address the dangers that we face today, and those that surely will meet us tomorrow," Byrd said.
In light of the recent bombing in London, where terrorists targeted trains and buses, Byrd pressed to infuse more funding into efforts to guard against such attacks here at home. The Senator authored an amendment to direct an additional $1.33 billion for security funding at transit systems, intra-city buses, intercity rail, and freight rail in West Virginia and throughout the country. The amendment was defeated by the Republican-led Senate, just seven days after the London attacks of July 7, 2005.
Senator Byrd also pressed the Senate to invest more funds into the hiring and training of local firefighters.
"Too often, our firefighters must pay for advanced training and equipment with the profits from bake sales and raffle tickets. America forces its first responders to protect our citizens with a shoestring budget. It simply is not right to ask these brave men and women to be ready to handle a biological or chemical attack without giving them the help that they so desperately need," Byrd said.
Byrd's amendment, which was approved by the Senate, added $50 million to funding to train and equip local firefighters across the country.
Byrd's efforts had the support of Chief Robert DiPoli (Retired), President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, who told the Senator that, although fire departments are locally funded and operated, they provide a national service in times of crisis, whether natural or man-made. Chief DiPoli stated that the program Byrd is working to fund is the "greatest program to ever hit the streets because fire departments cannot fund all of their needs through bean suppers and bingo games."
According to a recent study by the U. S. Fire Administration entitled, "A Needs Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service," only 13 percent of fire departments have the equipment and training to handle an incident involving chemical or biological agents, and half of all fire engines are at least fifteen years old. Ten percent of fire departments in cities with at least one building over four stories high, or higher, do not have adequate ladders or aerial apparatus. Overall, fire departments in the United States do not have enough portable radios to equip half of the responders on a shift, and the percentage is even higher in small communities.
"America has made strides in homeland security since September 11, 2001, but, clearly, we have a long, long way to go," Byrd said.
The legislation includes funding for a key homeland security training facility. The Customs and Border Protection Advanced Training Center, set to open this year at Harpers Ferry, would receive more than $35 million thanks to Byrd's work. More than $9 million is for operations at the Center, while more than $26 million is for the planning and design of an Emergency Operations Facility and Leadership Training Academy, to be built as part of the Center.
In addition, Byrd worked to advance the Coast Guard's expansion in the Eastern Panhandle through this legislation. The Coast Guard's Mariner Licensing and Documentation program, which is merging with the National Maritime Center and locating in West Virginia, will receive $12 million to speed the consolidation.
