Senator Bob Smith
Ranking Member, Environment & Public Works
Committee
Security/Infrastructure Hearing
November 1, 2001
Mr. Chairman, Thank
you for conducting this hearing.
The attacks of
September 11, left this nation with a number of questions dealing with preparedness
and security measures.
A couple of weeks
ago we heard from FEMA Director Allbaugh and emergency responders about the
response in New York and at the Pentagon --
and what lessons were learned.
Today we take the next step. We are here to
consider legislative proposals not only to help prevent further attacks, but
also to be better prepared if the unthinkable should happen again.
This committee has a number of agencies
within our jurisdiction that play vital roles in both security and response--and we will exercise
our responsibility to ensure that these agencies have all the tools necessary
to perform their jobs.
I am pleased to welcome the witnesses here
today - some of whom I have spent a good deal of time with recently. Assistant Secretary
Sampson joined me about a month ago in New Hampshire to discuss economic
development options in Berlin and Gorham.
A couple of weeks ago I met with Mike Brown
of FEMA to discuss my terrorism preparedness legislation and FEMA’s role in
terrorism response. And just last night I sat down with Chairman Meserve of the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission to discuss nuclear security issues, especially those
dealing with Seabrook Station in New Hampshire.
I want to thank you all for working closely
with me on issues of great importance, both to New Hampshire and the nation. You
all play important roles in our national preparedness efforts.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on
our current security situation and what needs to be done in order for the
American people to have the utmost confidence in this nation’s ability to
protect our vital infrastructure against further terrorist attacks.
As you know, I have
introduced a few bills to address both security and preparedness/response needs.
A terrorism preparedness bill that will: Establish
the mechanism to create a coherent national strategy for terrorism preparedness
and response. It will create a single federal coordinating and planning office for
consequence management. And it will integrate both state and local responders
in the planning and development of national terrorism preparedness policies.
I have also just
introduced a water infrastructure grant bill to provide resources in order for
these facilities to take care of immediate security needs
The grants in this bill can be used for a
variety of needs including: training programs for rural utilities, gates, security
cameras, surveillance equipment and
other needs as identified by the utility.
While the nation's utilities believe the
water supplies are safe and measures are in place to protect from attack, we
must be sure that every possible step is being taken to close any existing
security gaps. This bill will help to do that.
I have also joined Senator Inhofe in introducing
a Nuclear security bill. And I have been working with Senator Jeffords on a
bill to deal with communication needs in time of an emergency.
This is an issue
that has consistently come up in our hearings and in private meetings B
including a meeting I held last week in New Hampshire with our Governor and
Federal, State and local emergency responders.
I know that Senator
Warner also has a strong interest in this issue.
These are just a
few positive steps to address security and preparedness needs of this nation.
I look forward to
hearing the testimony of our witnesses in order to explore other avenues to
provide for our Homeland Security.
We are also here to discuss economic recovery
options for the devastated area in and around Ground Zero in New York City. I
know Senator Clinton has been working hard on legislation to get those small
businesses in that area back on their feet as soon as possible. I visited Ground
Zero shortly after the attack and can’t even begin to describe the devastation
I saw.
One way of defeating what these terrorist
stand for is to prove the resiliency of this nation. The Senator from New York and people of New York have my commitment to
help in that effort. As I told Mayor Giuliani at Ground Zero – “on September
11, we all became New Yorkers.”
And I will be
working closely with the members of this committee to address the economic
needs of those who suffered from the terrorist attack of 9/11.
Mr. Chairman, thank you again for holding
this hearing.