Washington, DC – Today, the House Homeland Security Committee marked-up H.R. 4749, the National Bombing Prevention Act of 2007.  H.R. 4749 establishes, in statute, the Office of Bombing Prevention within the Department of Homeland Security.  Congressman Al Green (TX-09), a member of the Homeland Security Committee, successfully amended H.R. 4749 to include language to mandate that the Office of Bombing Prevention execute a public awareness campaign to inform the general public and private sector businesses on ways they can deter, detect, prevent, protect against, and respond to terrorist explosive attacks in the United States.

“My amendment seeks to provide the public with the information they need to defend themselves against potential terrorist acts,” Rep. Green stated.  “When we equip hardware store owners with the knowledge to potentially prevent a terrorist from obtaining chemicals that can be used to create deadly explosives, we are taking pro-active measures to protect our country from those that seek to do us harm.”

The Office of Bombing Prevention’s public awareness campaign will utilize a broad spectrum of mainstream and specialty print, radio, and television media outlets, as well as the Internet.  The language inserted by Congressman Green will require the utilization of small and disadvantaged businesses, as defined under the Small Business Act, in the execution of this campaign to ensure that the public awareness messages reach underserved populations, including:

·  Persons with physical and mental disabilities, health problems, visual impairments, hearing impairments, limited English proficiency, and literacy barriers; and

· Socially and economically disadvantaged households and communities, the elderly and children.

“Utilization of a broad range of media as well as small and disadvantaged businesses will ensure that the pro-active messages of this campaign reach across the length and breadth of our great nation,” Rep. Green stated.  “A well-informed public is a better protected public.”