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Etheridge Introduces Legislation to Help First Responders PREPARE for Threats

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) and Democrats on the House Select Committee on Homeland Security yesterday introduced the Preparing America to Respond Effectively Act (PREPARE Act), a comprehensive approach to prepare the nation to respond to acts of terrorism. The legislation improves the first responder funding system, bolsters information sharing between federal, state and local governments, reforms the threat advisory system, and provides first responders with interoperable communications equipment.

"First responders have told me, through my homeland security survey and in meetings across the Second District, that their greatest needs are in funding, communication and information," Etheridge said. "As North Carolina's only Member of Congress on the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, I will not allow these calls for assistance to fall on deaf ears. Two years after 9/11, Americans deserve to know they are safer. Passing this legislation would go a long way towards fulfilling our responsibilities to first responders and to our citizens."

Etheridge, who has met with local first responders frequently since 9/11, recently surveyed police, fire and EMS departments across the Second Congressional District about their homeland security needs. Overwhelmingly, first responders reported they did not have the resources or the information to adequately prepare for potential attack.

Many respondents expressed frustration with the complex and convoluted grant process, which often involves applying to different agencies or offices. The PREPARE Act creates a common-sense process to identify and provide what cities, counties, and states need to handle a terrorist attack. The Act consolidates all terrorism preparedness grants in one DHS office in order to streamline interaction with state and local officials.

In Etheridge's survey, local first responders cited communications technology as a top funding need. The need for interoperable communications equipment has been well documented in independent reports and in analyses of the events of 9/11. The PREPARE Act requires DHS, with other agencies, to ensure that first responder equipment and training standards are developed, and that such equipment is interoperable within the first responder communities. The Act provides first responders with additional radio spectrum, and authorizes $20 million to give every state and major metropolitan area the immediate capability to connect radios of different responder agencies.

Etheridge's survey of local first responders also showed that first responders did not receive sufficient information and updates from the federal level to be prepared. More than 60 percent of respondents reported they did not receive regular updates from the FBI or the Department of Homeland Security or that, at best, these updates were only somewhat useful. The PREPARE Act requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reform the threat advisory system so it can issue alerts to the affected geographic area or industry sector. The Act also requires the Administration to clarify the responsibilities of DHS, the FBI, and the Terrorism Threat Integration Center for sharing and receiving information with local and state governments.