By Ed Somers
July 1, 2002

During remarks and an extended question and answer session with the nation's mayors on June 17, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge and FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh thanked the Conference for supporting the new Department of Homeland Security which they said will improve prevention, preparedness and response efforts. The Conference adopted a resolution in Madison supporting the creation of the new Department — as previously called for by the Conference in its Safety and Security National Action Plan — while calling for an active role in its creation, direct support for local first responders, and greater intelligence sharing.

While Ridge stood firm on his belief that the $3.5 billion in first responder funding should flow through the states, he again committed that at least 75 percent of these funds would reach local governments.

Ridge said that he believes that the funding contained in House and Senate supplemental appropriations bills will allow states and cities to develop integrated terrorism preparedness plans so that when the $3.5 billion is appropriated in the fall, the funding can move quickly to local governments.

Also, Ridge stressed that once state and local plans are in place, he does not want to see this process "disrupted" by state legislatures, also a concern expressed by many mayors.

Several new announcements were made during this session. First, when asked about the issue of overtime support by Gary Mayor Scott King, Ridge said he might support a 10 percent "block grant within the block grant" for overtime reimbursement, at least as a short-term option. This is a major change, with Ridge previously saying that he would only support overtime as applied to the required 25 percent soft match.

Second, Ridge said he recognizes that local law enforcement needs more intelligence support from federal agencies, and that he is working on an additional system to get security information directly to mayors — something the Conference has called for. "There can be no doubt, and there is certainly no doubt in our Office, that mayors and law enforcement have a legitimate need to know about serious and credible terrorist threats against their communities," Ridge said.

Ridge said that the new Department of Homeland Security will result in smarter borders which employ electronics and biometrics, a simplified grant process for states and cities, better planning and exercising for biological and chemical attacks, and the first-ever authorization for the integration of intelligence.

Ridge added that he is working closely with the private sector to map vulnerable infrastructure — 80 percent of which is owned or managed by private companies.

In his remarks, FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh said that the new Department of Homeland Security will provide FEMA with the opportunity to do what it does best, and that he strongly supports the creation of a one-stop grant support operation within this new Department.

Allbaugh said he will continue to emphasize the importance of the 10 regional FEMA offices, and believes that the $360 million in fire grants available this year will also be of great benefit to cities.

Allbaugh also said that he wants $125 million out of the $175 million in the supplemental bill to go to local communities, "so you can start the planning now." He added that he wants to work closely with cities on the development of their local preparedness plans. Director Allbaugh also wants to make sure that all of the Urban Search and Rescue Teams are trained to handle chemical and biological attacks, and stressed the importance of exercising response plans, both during the week and on weekends.