Feingold Discusses Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams At Local Listening Sessions Senator Currently Pushing For Full Implementation April 12, 2003 Readstown, WI - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold today discussed his legislative proposal to fully implement a law requiring at least one full-time Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (WMD-CST) in each state and territory. While Feingold’s legislation requiring the Secretary of Defense to create these new teams became law last year, the Department of Defense budget did not request the funding necessary to staff, train, equip, and operate these new teams. The legislation Feingold introduced this year provides that necessary funding, as well as, a deadline by which these teams must be established. Feingold’s bill fully implements theses teams by September 30, 2004. “While the passage of my legislation to create these full-time teams in each state last year was a good first step, these teams cannot be established without funding,” Feingold said. “At a time when Wisconsinites and all Americans are increasingly concerned about their safety and the safety of their loved ones, we owe it to the public to fully implement these WMD-CSTs. I hope that these teams will never have to respond to the use of weapons of mass destruction, but we must be ready.” Currently, there are 32 full-time and 23 part-time WMD-CSTs across the country. Wisconsin is among the 19 states and 4 territories with only a part-time team. These teams are also deployed for large-scale events such as Baseball's 2002 All-Star Game in Milwaukee. Minnesota's civil support team had to be called in for this event because of the lack of a full-time team in Wisconsin. “Chemical, biological, and other threats present new challenges to our military and to our local first responders,” Feingold said. “These civil support teams play a vital role in assisting local first responders in investigating and combating these new threats.” Feingold held his 19th Listening Session of 2003, and his 739th since he was first elected, at the Readstown Municipal Building, starting at 11:15 a.m. He held his 20th Listening Session of 2003, and his 740th since he was first elected, at the River Arts Center in Prairie du Sac, starting at 3:30 p.m. This is Feingold’s eleventh year of holding Listening Sessions in every county.

# # #