Statement of Senator Carl Levin Governmental Affairs Committee

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For Immediate Release

Statement of Senator Carl Levin Governmental Affairs Committee

Hearing On The Local Role In Homeland Security December 11, 2001

MICHIGAN, DETROIT, Dec. 12 -/E-Wire/-- In the minutes, hours and days after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the people we saw on the front lines at the World Trade Center in New York and at the Pentagon here in Washingtonâ the first responders everyone was watching around the globe â were local firefighters, police officers, and other emergency personnel. They were the ones charged with the responsibility of responding to the injuries, the developing threats, and the public reaction. Nothing tells us more clearly how important state and local governments are in our fight against terrorism than our experience of September 11th. We owe our local personnel a great deal of thanks and respect.

But we also owe them the commitment to try to make our intergovernmental systems work better in the future. I imagine all of our offices have heard concerns expressed by our state and local governments back home of communication and information problems. Local police officials in Michigan have told my office, for example, that they are not receiving the information they need. Our witness today, the President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police expresses a similar concern, particularly with respect to classified information, and has identified several areas where state and local police officers could greatly benefit from training, in such areas as responding to biological, chemical and nuclear incidents. We need to address these requests with meaningful action.

I also want to add that most importantly, our federal agencies have to see state and local governments as equal partners, people with whom we are working together and collaborating to make progress against terrorism. I have heard too many stories in the past about the arrogance of agencies like the FBI when they interface with local police. A former assistant district attorney recently told my office that he'd rather have needles poked in his eyes than have to work with the FBI on an investigation. Instead of sharing information, they apparently often hide it. Instead of working as a team, they work as competitors. To the extent that is still happening, and I hope it is a thing of the past, we have to stop it. In these new times, old practices like that have no role to play.

Communicating within a state is also key. My own state of Michigan completed and submitted its Three-year Statewide Domestic Preparedness Strategy report to the Department of Justice in October. States were required in 1998 to prepare a statewide assessment that shows the needs and vulnerability assessments of the state. Each state's study will then be used to channel future federal assistance through state governments to enhance state and local emergency preparedness. Every state is either working on their own self evaluating report or has submitted such a report. These reports will hopefully be helpful, not only to the state, but also to Governor Ridge and his Office of Homeland Security

No one has more responsibility for the inter-governmental relationships around terrorism than Governor Ridge. Governor Ridge has done a good job so far. He responded positively when I asked that National Guardsmen remain in place at the international border crossings in Michigan when their funding was set to expire. I am hopeful that he will continue to seek input, not only from Congress, but from local entities, both private and public, in creating an organizational structure to fight terrorism.

Although today's hearing is focusing on the role of public officials, it is crucial that private companies are also consulted. My staff recently met with an association based in Detroit that represents independent pollution spill response companies across the U.S. They offered to provide their expertise and help to train local officials in remediation including chemical and biological hazards.

Yet, they were unsure where to go to offer their assistance. My staff directed them to Governor Ridge's office and they are attempting to meet with his staff. The point is: we have private resources here that should not be overlooked. Many citizens tell me that they desperately want to help their country in some way besides spending money, and private companies may offer a way for citizens to help in what they may see as a more tangible way.

It is a terrible force that we are up against - hatred always is. But we have a lot of good people willing to help and a lot of hard work to do. I look forward to hearing from the witnesses who can teach us a great deal from their own real life experiences.

Spill Control Association of America

http://www.scaa-spill.org

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