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WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued today’s “Bush Administration’s
Misstatement of the Day” on a homeland security.
President
Bush proclaimed during a news conference yesterday:
“…America
is more secure.” (Washington Post, 10/29/03)
However,
according to the National
Hometown Security Survey Report released today by the Democratic Task Force
on Homeland Security:
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87%
of 304 local officials and emergency personnel who responded said they
do not have adequate homeland security funding.
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Only
16% of respondents said the federal government is doing all it can on homeland
security.
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56%
said communication and coordination with the federal government is inadequate.
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65%
said they had to spend their own funds for homeland security needs.
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63%
said the federal government has not given them specific information about
protecting their communities.
Schakowsky
said, “How can the President say we are secure when police chiefs can’t
find the money to buy protective suits for their officers and mayors don’t
have enough funds to secure water supplies and critical infrastructure?”
Ten
municipalities in Schakowsky’s Congressional District responded to the
survey and Schakowsky is planning to release a district specific report
early next month. Below, however, are quotes from local officials
from the 9th CD.
Barry
Liss, Deputy Chief of the Skokie Fire Department:
“There
are insufficient or unavailable funds within either fire or police budgets
to adequately meet homeland security needs.”
Des
Plaines Police Chief Jim Prandini:
“Des
Plaines Police lack everything except gas masks.”
Michael
Hansen, Chief of the Lincolnwood Fire Department:
“We
have some vulnerability to our infrastructure, but we can correct them
sooner if more federal funds were available at the local level.”
Bill
Shaw from Niles:
“Our
Department’s biggest concern is that Niles and its neighbors, and even
the departments within our Village, do not have the necessary communications
capability to work together in an emergency situation.”
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