FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 2003

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-225-0100

Pelosi: New Report Shows U.S. Must Make First Responder Funding a Priority

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the Council on Foreign Relations’ Independent Task Force report, "Drastically Underfunded, Dangerously Unprepared,” on homeland security. The Task Force, chaired by former Senator Warren B. Rudman (R-NH), found that because of inadequate funding for first responders, such as police officers and firefighters, and the lack of national preparedness standards, “the United States remains dangerously ill-prepared to handle a catastrophic attack on American soil.”

"For months, Democrats have called for more to be done to improve the ability of first responders to limit the damage of a terrorist attack on America. The Council on Foreign Relations’ Independent Task Force confirms those concerns.

"The needs of the men and women on the frontlines of the war on terrorism have not been made a high enough priority, despite what we learned nearly two years ago from the September 11 attacks. The Administration and Republicans in Congress have simply not done enough to meet our broad homeland security needs, whether it is funding our first responders, or securing our ports, our borders, and our air transportation system, or raising our level of preparedness.

"We must expand -- significantly and quickly -- our efforts to protect our nation against terrorist attacks; otherwise, the country will remain at a tremendous risk.

"The Council on Foreign Relations’ report is a stark warning, delivered by people of impeccable credentials, that the current course and pace of this critical aspect of homeland security is simply not good enough."

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi