Washington, DC — The National Citizen Corps Council held its inaugural meeting today at the White House. FEMA Deputy Director Mike Brown joined Governor Tom Ridge in announcing the National Council. The Council brings together leaders from first responders groups, emergency management agencies, volunteer service organizations, state and local governments, and the private sector to engage citizens in homeland security and promote community and family preparedness across the country. The leadership of these organizations and their colleagues at the state and local levels will collaborate to create local Citizen Corps Councils and to advance the mission of Citizen Corps. A list of the 43-member Council is located at the bottom of the release.

"The formation of the National Citizen Corps Council will play a major role in promoting citizen preparedness and homeland security nationwide," Brown said. "The Citizen Corps initiative is growing in communities across the country, and the outstanding members of this Council will help us to strengthen and expand the Citizen Corps initiative and its programs. Through these programs and through the more than 250 Citizen Corps Councils already active at the state and local levels, individuals are becoming better prepared to respond to disasters of all kinds and are being trained to help others. We will work with the Council in order to offer every community in the country an opportunity to participate in this important endeavor."

Brown also announced FEMA will award $21 million across the country to support the growth of Citizen Corps activities, including the formation of Citizen Corps Councils and the expansion of FEMA's Community Emergency Response Team (CERTs) program, which trains individuals in emergency response skills.

In his 2002 State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush issued a call to all Americans to engage in volunteer service, and announced the creation of USA Freedom Corps to help individuals answer that call to service. President Bush established the Citizen Corps initiative (www.citizencorps.gov), a component of the USA Freedom Corps, to provide individuals with opportunities to volunteer in a range of homeland security measures within their communities. Citizen Corps' mission is to make communities safer, stronger and better prepared to respond to threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds by engaging individuals in emergency preparedness and response through education, training, and volunteer service. The Citizen Corps initiative includes programs administered by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, as well as FEMA, which is also responsible for coordinating the Citizen Corps initiative.

National Citizen Corps Council Charter Members

Law Enforcement
International Association of Chiefs of Police
National Sheriffs' Association
Fraternal Order of Police
National Criminal Justice Association
Department of Justice

Fire
International Association of Fire Chiefs
International Association of Fire Fighters
National Association of State Fire Marshals
National Volunteer Fire Council
U.S. Fire Administration
Emergency Medical and Public Health Services
American Medical Association
American Nurses Association
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Association of State and Territorial Health Officers
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Health and Human Services

Emergency Management
National Emergency Management Association
International Association of Emergency Managers
Federal Emergency Management Agency (Chair)

Volunteer
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
American Red Cross
National Safety Council
Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network
Salvation Army
Church World Servicev Civil Air Patrol

Intergovernmental Groups
National League of Cities
U.S. Conference of Mayors
National Governors Association
National Association of Counties
National Conference of State Legislatures
International City/County Managers Association
National Association of Towns and Townships
National Conference of Black Mayors
National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
National Congress of American Indians

Private Sector
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees)
American Public Works Association

Other Federal Partners
Department of Education
Environmental Protection Agency
Corporation for National and Community Service
USA Freedom Corps

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