U.S. Senator Ken Salazar

Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs Committees

 

2300 15th Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510

 

 

For Immediate Release

July 13, 2005

CONTACT:    Cody Wertz – Press Secretary

                        202-228-3630

Jen Clanahan – Deputy Press Secretary

                        303-455-7600

 

SEN. SALAZAR’S AMENDMENTS TO HOMELAND SECURITY BILL APPROVED

National Survey of Locals, Long-Term Anti-Terror Plan and Rail Safety Improvements All Included

WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Senator Ken Salazar today won a major step in the fight for improved homeland security after the Senate’s unanimous approval of three of his amendments to HR 2360, the Homeland Security Appropriations Act. Senator Salazar’s improvements to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill will provide for better homeland security preparations at the local and national levels.

Sen. Salazar’s amendments are now part of the full Homeland Security Appropriations bill (HR 2360) expected to pass the Senate later this week

“Last week’s vicious attack in London is a grim reminder that terrorists are constantly looking for targets no matter where they are. America is not as safe as it needs to be and the federal government must do more to assist local, state and national preparations,” Senator Salazar said. “These three amendments, approved with unanimous and bipartisan consensus, will do just that.”

HR 2360 provides appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the federal agency charged with preparing for and preventing terrorist attacks against Americans. Senator Salazar’s amendments, approved today by the unanimous consent of the Senate, will:

  • Improve DHS Cooperation With Local Emergency Officials: In June 2005, Senator Salazar released results of a highly-successful statewide homeland security survey of more than 60 officials from all corners of the state. The results of Senator Salazar’s survey disclosed concerns and frustrations with a number of DHS processes including grants, communications, information sharing and training and preparations. Based on this experience, Senator Salazar introduced an amendment to require the DHS Secretary to conduct a similar formal survey of state and local emergency officials (such as police, fire, medical, and emergency planners on the municipal, county, regional and state levels) to examine the effectiveness and user-friendliness of these types of programs where the Department interacts with State and local officials in order to improve cooperation between DHS and state and local emergency officials;

  • Develop a Coherent, Long-Term Plan For Fighting Terrorism: Senator Salazar’s second amendment requires the DHS to develop a strategic plan every four years similar to the Department of Defense’s Quadrennial Defense Review. The Review will be a comprehensive examination of the national homeland defense strategy, inter-agency cooperation, preparedness of Federal response assets, infrastructure, budget plan, and other elements of the homeland defense program and policies of the United States with a view toward determining and expressing the homeland defense strategy of the United States and establishing a homeland defense program for the next 20 years; and

  • Develop Ideas for Improved Rail Safety: Senator Salazar’s third amendment urges the DHS to invest in research to promote tunnel rail safety as well as training to ensure first responders are prepared to respond to rail tunnel emergencies through research and training programs like those provided by the Department of Transportation’s Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colorado. The TTC one of the largest and most-advanced rail safety centers in the world, featuring 48 miles of test track and a variety of freight, passenger, and hazardous material cars to prepare first responders and test new safety technologies.

“Just as important as fighting terrorists overseas is preparing on the home front. By ensuring our homeland security plans are responsive to local concerns and based in a coherent, long-term plan, we can make America safer,” Senator Salazar said.

The Senate will be working on HR 2360, the Homeland Security Appropriations Act, throughout the week and is expected to pass it before the end of the week. It will then proceed to conference committee to iron out differences between House and Senate versions before being voted upon a second time by both the House and Senate. If the House and Senate both approve the conference report, it will go on to the President’s desk for signature or veto.

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