Washington, D.C. -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, today announced an official affiliation between Citizen Corps and three new federal partners at the National Citizen Corps Conference in Washington, D.C. Under Secretary Brown signed the affiliation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS) within Department of Education. These federal partnerships will help raise awareness about public and family safety, provide opportunities for citizen participation in training and public safety programs, and strengthen Citizen Corps Councils across the nation.

"The affiliation between Citizen Corps and NOAA, EPA, and OSDFS demonstrates the commitment of federal agencies to President Bush's Citizen Corps initiative," Brown said. "I look forward to working with our partners to expand the role citizens play within their community to be more secure and better able to respond to disasters of all kinds."

The National Citizen Corps Conference, held in Washington, D.C. this week, brings together 250 state, local, and federal representatives from across the country, affiliate Citizen Corps programs, and the National Citizen Corps Council. The Conference allows participants to share information and best practices, as well as discuss collaboration among state, tribal, and local Citizen Corps Councils to identify opportunities for volunteer service to support first responders.

These agreements add NOAA, EPA, and OSDFS programs as affiliates to the four federal charter Citizen Corps programs: Neighborhood Watch and Volunteers in Police Service, administered by the Department of Justice; Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), administered by FEMA; and Medical Reserve Corps, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. They also join the American Red Cross, Amateur Radio Relay League, National Safety Council, 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, stronger, and better-prepared communities.

NOAA conducts research and gathers data about the global oceans, atmosphere, space, and sun, and applies this knowledge to science and service that touch the lives of all Americans. The affiliation with Citizen Corps will help expand NOAA Weather Radio coverage across the nation, provide opportunities for volunteer weather observers through the Cooperative Observing Program, increase Storm Spotter training for citizens at local forecast stations, and promote other weather-related volunteer activities.

EPA's mission is to protect public health and to safeguard the natural environment. This affiliation will encourage Local Emergency Planning Committees to serve as the nucleus for local Citizen Corps Councils or to form a collaborative partnership with existing Citizen Corps Councils to promote an all-hazards approach to community and family safety.

OSDFS administers, coordinates, and recommends policy for improving the quality and excellence of programs and activities that are designed to provide financial and technical assistance for drug and violence prevention and to promote the health and well being of students in elementary and secondary schools and institutions for higher education. Together, Citizen Corps and OSDFS will work to provide age-appropriate student education, training and volunteer service opportunities that support first responders, disaster relief, and community safety, to include support for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training and other safety courses.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

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