Long Branch, NJ --- As Congressional hearings begin on the final 9/11 Commission report, Commissioner John F. Lehman yesterday highlighted Fort Monmouth's contribution in providing critical support to first responders in the event of another terrorist attack. U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Rush Holt (D-NJ) today praised Commissioner Lehman, a Republican who served as Secretary of the Navy for seven years under President Reagan, for recognizing the role Fort Monmouth plays in homeland security.
Commissioner Lehman's comments were made at a House Government Reform Committee hearing and came in a response to a question from U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) on funding formulas for securing high-risk areas like New York and New Jersey.
"Because one of the real lacks today is in the connectivity among the fireman, policeman, and first responders and between them and as it escalates up through the FEMA, through the National Guard which are going to be needed to respond in potential attacks in the future on up into the military," Republican Commissioner Lehman began.
"This is something where the Department of Defense has tremendous expertise, has procurement, has technology, has R&D. Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, the head of the Army Signal Corps is just outside of New York. So this is something that should be I think a Defense Department responsibility to provide that kind of support to the first responders in the high target high-risk cities like New York," Lehman concluded.
"As Congress begins the process of reorganizing parts of our government to better protect the homeland, I'm encouraged by Commissioner Lehman's comments that Fort Monmouth plays a vital role in supporting our first responders in the event of another terrorist attack," Pallone said. "
