Washington, DC -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, today announced an official affiliation between the National Safety Council (NSC) and President Bush's Citizen Corps initiative. At the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., an affiliate partnership was signed between NSC and Citizen Corps during National Safety Month. The signed partnership will raise public awareness about emergency preparedness, public health issues, life-supporting first aid, and home and workplace safety hazards.

"Everyone can take part in emergency preparedness training in their community. The affiliation between Citizen Corps and the National Safety Council will help bring the message of home, workplace, and community safety to the American people," Brown said. "I look forward to working with the National Safety Council to expand the role citizens play within their community to make our nation safer and better prepared than ever before."

The agreement adds the NSC as an affiliate to the four charter Citizen Corps programs: Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), and Medical Reserve Corps. The NSC joins the Points of Light Foundation, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, National Volunteer Fire Council, National Fire Protection Association, Save A Life Foundation, and The U.S. Junior Chamber as Citizen Corps affiliate programs.

Under the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, Citizen Corps is a community-based initiative to engage all citizens in homeland security and community and family preparedness through public education and outreach, training opportunities, and volunteer programs. Programs under the Citizen Corps umbrella include federally sponsored programs and other activities that share the goal of helping communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to all-hazards. Citizen Corps encourages all Americans to take an active role in building safer, ber, and better-prepared communities.

The NSC is a congressionally chartered national organization with a mission to educate and influence society to adopt safety, health, and environmental policies, practices, and procedures that prevent and mitigate human suffering and economic losses arising from preventable causes.

During each week of National Safety Month, NSC is focusing on a different aspect of personal safety: driving safety, home and community safety, preparedness, and workplace safety.

For more information on Citizen Corps and Citizen Corps Councils around the country, visit www.citizencorps.gov.