Homeland Security
Keeping America safe is our most important duty. During the 113th Congress, we are continuing our efforts to strengthen our Nation’s security infrastructure, borders, and ports; provide our first responders the resources and training they need to do their jobs; and improve our ability to prepare and respond to disasters.
Strengthening Our Infrastructure
Yet more needs to be done, particularly to improve security along and safeguard travel and trade across the U.S.-Canada border, which has been historically neglected in comparison to the Southwest Border. In addition to safety reasons, there are economic reasons for improving security at the Northern Border. Encompassing over 5,500 miles and spanning 12 states, including Michigan, the U.S.-Canada border is the location of the largest bilateral trade relationship in the world—every day, approximately 300,000 people and $1.5 billion cross.
In response to a 2010 GAO report which highlighted challenges to protecting the Department of Homeland Security in 2012 developed a Northern Border Strategy. The Strategy has three main components: to prevent terrorism and illegal activity; to facilitate the secure flow of lawful trade and travel; and to protect border communities. To ensure that the Strategy is successful, additional resources will be required, including an increase in Border Patrol agents, better technology, streamlined information sharing among law enforcement partners, and infrastructure funding.
Our local police, firefighters, and those who serve in the National Guard are the front lines in our fight to secure our communities. We must be diligent in ensuring all of our law enforcement agencies have the latest technology, equipment and resources they need, which is why I am a long-time supporter of funding for local police departments.
By strengthening the federal commitment to public safety, we provide state and local law enforcement the ability to hire new officers, acquire up-to-date crime fighting technology, combat violence against women, and fight internet crimes against children.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
In border states like Michigan, it is especially important that our first responders have the ability and means to communicate to prepare for and appropriately respond to a disaster, natural or man-made. It is therefore critical that we provide them with the tools to communicate seamlessly and the resources to get the job done.
Advances in technology for first responders greatly benefit our communities: police officers, firefighters, and medical technicians are able to do their jobs more efficiently and respond more quickly to emergency situations; local governments save money thanks to improved efficiency and technology sharing across communities; and our communities are safer and better-served.
(Updated June 5, 2013)