Senator Kent Conrad | North Dakota

Homeland Security

"September 11th brought home in a truly horrific way the vulnerabilities our open and free nation faces. Ensuring that we are as safe and secure as possible demands that federal, state, and local governments and communities work effectively and efficiently together. I will continue to work with President Bush and my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in Congress to improve our homeland security and to prevent further terrorist attacks, while at the same time protecting our cherished constitutional rights and our tradition of open and accountable government."
--Senator Kent Conrad

Since September 11th, the federal government has greatly increased efforts to prevent terrorist threats. The Department of Homeland Security was created, combining 22 government agencies under one roof. The U.S. has beefed up its security and provided additional resources to protect our 4,000 mile border with Canada. Congress has also acted to protect air travelers and to help law enforcement root out Al Qaeda cells.

In protecting our homeland, Senator Conrad believes we must remember that it is our police officers, firefighters, and health professionals who are truly the first line of defense in preventing and responding to terrorist threats. One of the vital lessons we learned on September 11th was that emergency personnel must develop compatible communications. Whether first responders work for the county, the city, the state or the federal government, they must communicate quickly and effectively when disaster strikes. We simply must provide adequate training and resources for these "homeland heroes."

Bioterrorism preparedness is a particular challenge. It is important to note that many types of bioterrorist attacks are difficult to contain. If the initial attack happens in a faraway city, for example, all it takes is for one infected traveler from that city to visit North Dakota for our state to have an outbreak.

Senator Conrad is working to harness America's advanced technologies to leverage cost-efficient high tech responses to homeland security threats. In particular, Senator Conrad has developed Smart Border legislation. This legislation, which was signed into law in 2004, directs the Department of Homeland Security to institute a high-tech pilot project that uses sensors, cameras, unmanned aircraft, and advanced computing technology to monitor remote stretches of the Northern Border with Canada. The Smart Border project will give the Border Patrol more tools to assess and respond quickly to potential threats.

In 2004, Senator Conrad supported the Intelligence Reform bill, which authorized 2,000 new patrol agents for our borders annually. More recently, he helped secure language in the FY 2006 Homeland Security appropriations bill to fund the addition of 1,000 new border agents. Senator Conrad also won $2 million in border security funds to establish a Customs and Border Protection Air Branch in Grand Forks that will help monitor remote stretches of our northern border. He then secured an additional $17 million in the FY 2007 appropriations bill to accelerate the establishment of the Air Branch.

Further, Senator Conrad supported the Secure Fence Act in 2006 which directs the Department of Homeland Security to construct reinforced fencing and additional barriers and detection equipment along five stretches of the southern border, totaling roughly 850 miles.

Safety depends on preparation. Senator Conrad is confident that, in the North Dakota tradition of working together, we can meet any challenge head on and make our state and country as safe and secure as possible.