Official Remarks & Reports |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS KENNETH O. BURRIS JR. REGION IV DIRECTOR FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY |
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MARCH 21, 2002 Introduction Good morning, Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee. I am Ken Burris Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region IV Director. Director Allbaugh regrets that he is unable to be here with you today. It is a pleasure for me to represent him at this very important hearing on combating terrorism. FEMA is the Federal Agency responsible for coordinating our nation's efforts to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from all hazards. Our success depends on our ability to organize and lead a community of local, State, and Federal agencies, volunteer organizations, private sector entities and the first responder community. We know whom to bring to the table when a disaster strikes in order to ensure the most effective management of the response and recovery effort. We provide management expertise and financial resources to help State and local governments when they are overwhelmed by disasters. The Federal Response Plan (FRP) forms the heart of our management framework and lays out the process by which interagency groups work together to respond as a cohesive team to all types of disasters. This team is made up of 26 Federal departments and agencies, and the American Red Cross, and is organized into 12 emergency support functions based on the authorities and expertise of the members and the needs of our counterparts at the State and local level. Since 1992, in all manner of horrific natural disasters like the Northridge Earthquake and Hurricane Floyd and also in response to the Oklahoma City bombing and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the FRP has proven to be an effective and efficient framework for managing all phases of disasters and emergencies. The FRP is successful because it builds upon existing professional disciplines, expertise, delivery systems, and relationships among the participating agencies. FEMA has strong ties to emergency management organizations - fire service, law enforcement and emergency medical communities - and we routinely plan, train, exercise, and operate together to remain prepared to respond and recover from all hazards. We learn from every disaster experience and incorporate these lessons wherever possible into our planning and processes to improve the next disaster response. For example, an assessment of the Oklahoma City bombing led to the full realization of the FEMA Urban Search & Rescue teams as well as the processes for monitoring the long-term health of first responders. The World Trade Center and Pentagon disaster responses are no different. We have learned from both. We recognize that better personal protective equipment is needed for our first responders and that training and exercises, better communications and improved interoperability of the equipment, and enhanced medical response capabilities and mutual aid agreements are also needed. We are committed to ensuring that those needs are met. Meeting The Challenge Ahead B Office of National Preparedness Although the challenge of meeting these needs may represent an expansion of our duties, in many respects, FEMA's role in responding to terrorist attacks was identified well before September 11th. On May 8, 2001, the President tasked Director Allbaugh with creating the Office of National Preparedness (ONP) within FEMA to Acoordinate all Federal programs dealing with weapons of mass destruction consequence management@ and work closely with state and local governments to ensure their planning, training, and equipment needs are met. ONP: Mission and Activities in Support of Homeland Security Following the September 11 attacks, the President appointed Governor Ridge to head the newly established Office of Homeland Security (OHS) with the charge to Adevelop and coordinate the implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to secure the United States from terrorist threats or attacks.@ In carrying out this activity, the OHS was tasked to Acoordinate the executive branch's efforts to detect, prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks within the United States.@ Since that time, FEMA has been working closely with Governor Ridge and OHS and other agencies to identify and develop the most effective ways to quickly build and enhance the overall domestic capability to respond to terrorist attacks. In consultation with OHS, FEMA will provide critical support for homeland security initiatives, particularly in the area of local and State capability building. FEMA will also have a significant role supporting the development of the national strategy, participating in interagency forums and working groups, including the Homeland Security Council and Policy Coordinating Committees, and contributing to the interagency budget strategy and formulation process. The Office of National Preparedness' (ONP) mission is to provide leadership in the coordination and facilitation of all Federal efforts to assist State and local first responders (including fire, medical and law enforcement) and emergency management organizations with planning, training, equipment and exercises necessary to build and sustain capability to respond to any emergency or disaster, including a terrorist incident involving a weapon of mass destruction and other natural or manmade hazards. FEMA has made or in the process of making the following changes to support this expanded mission to support the Office of Homeland Security:
ONP Organization The ONP is organized in FEMA Headquarters under a Director (reporting directly to the FEMA Director) and supported by a Management Services Unit and four Divisions to carry out key its functions to coordinate and implement Federal programs and activities aimed at building and sustaining the national preparedness capability. The divisions and their functional responsibilities include the following:
We continue to work with all 55 states, and territories, the District of Columbia, and Federally recognized Indian Tribes and Alaskan Native Villages to implement our grant programs to assist State, Tribal, and local government to enhance their capabilities to respond to all types of hazards and emergencies including terrorist incidents and natural disasters. First Responder Initiative In his FY'03 Budget proposal, the President has requested that FEMA receive $3.5 billion to administer the First Responder Initiative. Grants based on this initiative will give the first responder community critically needed funds to prepare for a terrorist incident. The ONP will be responsible for administering these First Responder grants. Some of the goals established by ONP for the First Responder Initiative are as follows:
In achieving these objectives, FEMA will implement a procedure designed to speed the flow of resources to the States and localities. Federal funds will then be used to support State and local governments in four key areas:
The First Responder Initiative builds upon existing capabilities at the Federal, State, and local level by providing needed resources to improve our response capabilities and strengthen our preparedness as a nation. The Role of the U.S. Fire Administration Our nation's firefighters will continue to bear an increasing portion of the burden for homeland security, responding to a variety of emergent issues including terrorism. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) will provide the Office of National Preparedness with essential support through its unique focus on training programs within the Federal Government. These programs are included in the Agency's mission-related preparedness and mitigation strategies. In addition, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program remains an important element in supporting the most pressing needs of at-risk communities and fire service providers in reducing the loss of life and property from fire, including loss of life and injury to firefighters. As a result of the last year's appropriations, this Grant Program received $150 million that must be obligated by September 30th of the current fiscal year. An additional $210 million was received in the Emergency Supplemental that is expendable until September 30th, 2003. We expect most of the supplemental appropriation will be obligated in FY 2002 with almost all of the remainder obligated in the first quarter of FY 2003. FEMA is happy to report that our on-line application system is up and running as of March 1, 2002. Transfer of the Office for Domestic Preparedness to FEMA The President's budget request also seeks to consolidate our nation's preparedness efforts under one Federal agency; the President has requested that the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) be transferred from the Department of Justice to FEMA. With this proposal the President has shown true leadership in his willingness to address a long-standing problem B the need for central coordination among the myriad of Federal programs dealing with terrorism preparedness. Some forty Federal Departments and Agencies have been involved in the overall effort to build the national capability for preparedness and response to the consequences of terrorist incidents. Many of these activities have been primarily focused on the development or enhancement of Federal capabilities to deal with terrorist incidents, including plans, personnel and physical security upgrades, and specialized resources such as protection and detection technology and response teams. Other Federal programs and activities are focused on building the local and State first responder and emergency management capabilities, to include the provision of resources and funding to support planning, training, exercises and equipment acquisition. Various independent studies and commissions have recognized the problems inherent in this uncoordinated approach. Several recommendations by the Gilmore Commission, for example, stress the importance of giving states and first responders a single point of contact for Federal assistance for training, exercises and equipment. In its second report issued in December 2000, the Commission found that the Aorganization of the Federal government's programs for combating terrorism is fragmented, uncoordinated, and politically unaccountable.@ The Commission's third report issued seven key recommendations regarding state and local response capabilities. These seven recommendations included consolidating Federal grant program information and application procedures. These findings and recommendations have been echoed in numerous other Commissions and reports, by the first responder community, and by state and local governments. In the post-9/11 environment, we can ill afford to wage turf battles that in effect protect the inefficiencies of the status quo. We must instead focus on the merits of a proposal that seeks to address duplication, shore up gaps, eliminate confusion and reduce complication. Citizen Corps In order to help Americans strengthen their communities, President Bush tasked FEMA with overseeing Citizen Corps. This initiative is part of the overall effort of Freedom Corps, whose mission is to assist individuals and communities with implementing Homeland Security Programs in their areas. Since September 11, 2001, Americans are more aware than ever of the threat of terrorist acts on home soil. In the days following the attacks we saw immediate and selfless volunteering, generous monetary gifts, blood donations, and an outpouring of support and patriotism across America. Sustaining that spirit of volunteerism and unity is crucial to defending the homeland. Citizen Corp's broad network of volunteer efforts will harness the power of the American people by relying on their individual skills and interests to prepare local communities to effectively prevent and respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, or any kind of disaster. Citizen Corps will build upon existing crime prevention, natural disaster preparedness, and public health response networks. Citizen Corps will initially consist of participants in the following five programs: the Volunteers in Police Service Program; an expanded Neighborhood Watch Program; the Medical Reserve Corps; Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), and the Terrorism Information and Prevention System (TIPS). FEMA has the responsibility for approving additional programs to be affiliated with Citizen Corps in the future. Finally, Citizen Corps will bring together local government, law enforcement, educational institutions, the private sector, faith-based groups and volunteers into a cohesive community resource. The Federal role is to provide general information, to develop training standards and materials, and to identify volunteer programs and initiatives that support the goals of the Citizen Corps. Moving Forward In addition to the President's plan to provide greater assistance to First Responders, FEMA and ONP are currently implementing a number of other homeland security initiatives. These include:
All of these activities will strengthen the nation's capability to respond to a terrorist incident. Conclusion Operationally, FEMA is well prepared and equipped to respond to an act of terrorism. Following a manmade or natural disaster FEMA will ensure that the Federal government and its partners provide needed support to disaster victims, first responders, and local governments. I look forward to working with each of you on this critical matter, as it will require a commitment from all of us to ensure its continued success. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would be happy to answer any questions you have.
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