PROTECTING AMERICA

    The 2006 Budget helps meet the primary responsibility of the Federal Government: To defend our Nation from attack. The Budget meets this commitment by increased funding for the Department of Defense, international diplomatic and security efforts, and homeland security functions.

    The Budget raises defense spending by 4.8 percent and raises homeland security spending by 8 percent, including fee funded activities. Since 2001, the Administration will have raised defense spending by more than 40 percent and more than tripled funding for homeland security. These funds help protect America by supporting our all-volunteer forces with higher pay and better equipment as they fight and win the Global War on Terror. These funds are helping our military transform to meet the emerging threats of the 21st Century. And these funds are supporting our efforts to defend against terror threats at home.

    In the War on Terror, the Bush Administration’s primary strategy is to take the fight to the enemy. Our ability to do so depends on steady support for our troops and their mission in Iraq and Afghanistan. Working with a broad coalition, our troops have liberated these nations from the rule of tyrannical regimes that actively supported terrorist organizations. With the continued support of the Congress, our troops will help these nations develop the capability to defend their own democratically elected governments, which will promote freedom and reform throughout the region. Fighting terror is not just a matter of killing or capturing terrorists. Fighting terror requires a steady commitment to spreading liberty and democracy, because free nations are peaceful nations.

    While fighting this war, the Administration is also transforming our military so that it has the training and weapons to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. By restructuring our overseas bases to enhance access to potentially unstable areas of the world—rather than remaining in large far-away bases built for the needs of the Cold War—we will enable our troops to surge quickly to deal with unexpected threats. By taking advantage of 21st Century military technologies, America’s combat power can be rapidly deployed with greater precision, stealth, and success. By building modular Army brigades, we will create a more flexible fighting force able to match the needs of the mission.

    These steps will help meet the threats of the 21st Century, including the war in which we are currently engaged. They will strengthen our alliances around the world, while we build new partnerships to better preserve the peace and promote freedom. And they will reduce the stress on our troops and our military families.

    In addition to these steps, the Administration has reorganized the Nation’s military commands to address the new challenges. These efforts include creating a new Northern Command to better defend the homeland; the Joint Forces Command focused on transformation; and a new Strategic Command responsible for early warning of, and defense against, missile attack. The Administration is also negotiating new strategic relationships that would have been unimaginable just a decade ago with nations in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and other critical areas of the world.

    The 2006 Budget provides substantial resources to increase our ability to prevent terrorist attacks, as have prior budgets since September 11, 2001, by increasing funding for the Federal Bureau of Investigation's counterterrorism efforts and focusing resources on the most vulnerable domestic targets: airports and seaports; the food supply and water systems; major transportation systems; information networks and critical infrastructure. With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the Nation has a better coordinated, focused, and funded system to protect America from terrorist attack.

WINNING THE WAR ON TERROR

    Three years ago, Afghanistan was ruled by the brutal Taliban regime and was the home base from which al-Qaida was able to plan the September 11th attacks. American and coalition troops liberated the Afghan people. In October, 2004, Afghanistan held its first free and fair democratic Presidential election, giving new hope to some 25 million people.

    Likewise, three years ago, Iraq was ruled by a tyrant who provided a safe haven for terrorists, invaded his neighbors, had used weapons of mass destruction against his own people, and defied the will of the world by failing to disclose his plans to develop such weapons again in the future. The Iraqi people are now confronting many challenges, but are creating in the heart of the Middle East an example of freedom and democracy. Iraqi security forces are fighting alongside coalition troops to defeat insurgents and foreign fighters. The Iraqi people have taken the first steps toward freedom and self-government.

    Ensuring security in Iraq and Afghanistan requires dedication and sacrifice. The 2006 Budget, and the 2005 supplemental request, will ensure that our Armed Forces have the resources to get the job done. The Administration’s 2005 supplemental request will provide funding for military capabilities, troop support, force protection, repair of damaged equipment, the training of Iraqi and Afghan security forces, and increased intelligence support.

Security in Iraq and Afghanistan

    Our goal is to ensure Iraqis and Afghans are fully capable of defending themselves and their new societies against the forces of terrorism. The Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of State have devoted substantial resources to train and equip security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    The coalition faces difficult challenges in training and equipping Iraqi security forces, as these forces continue to face targeted attacks by insurgents. However, despite these challenges, coalition forces had trained nearly 127,000 Iraqi security forces as of mid-January and continue training the Iraqi army, police, and other security forces, such as border enforcement personnel, to provide for their own country's security. The 2005 supplemental request will allow us to accelerate the work we have started.

    Similarly in Afghanistan, DOD is training the Afghan National Army (ANA). The ANA is now fighting terrorism and maintaining security with a force of 16,000 troops, including soldiers from all of Afghanistan’s ethnic groups. DOD will accelerate training to help the Afghans develop their own military capabilities.

    Along with other nations, the United States is also making long-term investments in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Key infrastructure projects in Iraq will create jobs and provide millions of Iraqis with greater access to basic services, such as clean water, electricity, and reliable telecommunications systems. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. aid coordinated by the State Department and the Agency for International Development, will continue to build the local capacity to deliver healthcare and other basic services, collect revenues, and develop the framework necessary for a modern and open economy.

    The Budget also devotes resources to protect Afghanistan’s democratic and economic development from the drug trade by providing funding to eradicate poppy crops; develop alternative cash crops; interdict the drug flow; prosecute drug traffickers; and build Afghanistan’s counter-narcotics capabilities.

    The Commander’s Emergency Response Program (CERP) provides the funds for U.S. troops to assist Iraqis and Afghans with critical reconstruction and assistance projects. Commanders on the ground are able to provide assistance in a streamlined fashion, which means money is available to respond to needs right away. CERP has helped troops on the ground build goodwill with Iraqis, which in turn supports the overall mission. Since the inception of CERP, commanders have spent almost $250 million to directly improve education, healthcare, electricity, water, and security. The 2006 Budget and 2005 supplemental propose to continue the authority for CERP. The Budget requests authority for an additional $300 million and the supplemental will request additional 2005 funds and authority.

Strengthening Our National Guard and Reserves

    During 2005, the Administration expects to have more than 163,000 National Guard and Reservists mobilized across all services supporting the Global War on Terror. In recognition of the burdens placed on our mobilized Guardsmen and Reservists, the President proposed and signed into law increases to their Montgomery GI Bill education benefits, if mobilized for 90 days or more. In addition, Guardsmen and Reservists have benefited from enhanced compensation, including a new bonus for conversion to a different military specialty; revised enlistment and reenlistment bonuses; and enhanced health benefits, including better pre- and post-mobilization coverage. Guardsmen and Reservists who have been deployed also benefited from active-duty compensation increases.

Blocking Terrorist Financing

    The United States continues to work with friends and allies to disrupt the financing of terrorism by identifying and blocking the sources of funding, freezing the assets of terrorists and those who support them, denying terrorists access to the international financial system, protecting legitimate charities from being abused by terrorists, and preventing the movement of assets through alternative financial networks.

    The Budget commits over $100 million to the Department of the Treasury’s efforts to protect America by detecting and stopping financial crimes, money laundering, and terrorist financing. The Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence safeguards financial systems against illicit use by rogue nations, terrorist facilitators, money launderers, drug kingpins, and other national security threats. One of the most visible and effective tactics of the comprehensive strategy has been public designation of terrorists and terrorist organizations. Since September 2001, the United States and our allies have designated 397 terrorist-related entities and frozen nearly $147 million in terrorist assets worldwide.

Intelligence Reform

    The recently enacted Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 builds on the reforms implemented by these agencies and by executive orders on information sharing, intelligence community management, and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). The new Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is empowered to set funding, collection, and analytic priorities across the national intelligence program in consultation with appropriate Department and agency heads. In addition, the DNI will spearhead efforts to improve information sharing within the intelligence community.

    The recently created NCTC has already become a critical player in the war on terror. The NCTC expands on the analytic mission of the former Terrorist Threat Integration Center by serving as the primary organization in the U.S. Government for analyzing and integrating intelligence pertaining to terrorism and counterterrorism; serving as the central and shared knowledge bank on known and suspected terrorists and international terror groups; and ensuring that agencies, as appropriate, have access to and receive the all-source intelligence support needed to execute their counterterrorism plans or perform independent, alternative analysis. The NCTC will improve our ability to mount coordinated, strategic operations against terrorism.

Fighting Terror by Promoting Democracy

    The best hope for achieving peace in our world is the expansion of freedom. The 2006 Budget funds initiatives to promote democracy and reform, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, and other majority Muslim countries. For example, the Budget includes $80 million for the National Endowment for Democracy to enhance its efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, the rule of law, human rights, civic education, and independent media.

    The Budget also includes $120 million for the Middle East Partnership Initiative, a cornerstone of the State Department’s approach to supporting political and economic reform in the region. All these activities promote long-term reforms by advancing democratic and economic freedom, which diminishes terror organizations' ability to recruit.

    To promote better understanding of America and American ideals, the Budget includes $180 million in 2006 for exchange programs in countries with significant Muslim populations, including the Near East, South Asia, Indonesia, and parts of Africa and Europe. Public diplomacy in the region will support the continuation of several priority programs, including American Corners—locations around the world that provide access to information about America through the Internet, guest speakers, and other events for non-Americans in a neutral setting. The 2006 Budget for the Broadcasting Board of Governors includes an increase to significantly expand television broadcasting to Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan in 2006, following the successful launch of its Arabic news satellite television channel, al-Hurra, in 2004.

    The successful presidential election held by the Palestinian Authority is an important step toward the building of democratic institutions needed for realization of the President’s vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. The United States will take a leading role in helping Palestinians build a viable economy and democratic institutions, and the security institutions they need to fight and defeat terror. The Budget contains $150 million for projects aiding the Palestinians in infrastructure and democracy building.

Fighting Terror with Development

    Persistent poverty and oppression can lead to the kind of despair and failed states that become havens for terror. The United States is the world’s leader in providing development and humanitarian assistance, opening up our markets for trade, and providing peacekeeping assistance to regions where peace and stability are needed. In 2002, the President pledged that the United States would lead by example and increase its core development assistance by 50 percent, or $5 billion, by 2006. The 2006 Budget exceeds this commitment—the request for core development assistance is $8.2 billion above the amount appropriated in 2002. Moreover, President Bush has increased official development assistance more than at any other time since the Marshall Plan, reversing decades of decline in assistance as a percentage of GDP. This positive trend will continue in future years as two of the President’s main foreign policy initiatives—the fight against HIV/AIDS and the Millennium Challenge Account—disburse more funds to promote development and reform and fight suffering and poverty.

TRANSFORMATION OF OUR MILITARY

    Even as our men and women in uniform continue to wage the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, DOD is adapting to face new and emerging threats. Much of the increase in defense budgets has been devoted to transforming our Nation’s military capabilities and laying the foundation for winning the War on Terror. This process is dynamic and requires an ongoing adjustment of national security priorities. DOD has begun a strategic analysis that will form the basis of the 2005 Quadrennial Review. This review will further refine the Nation’s long-range security requirements and assessment of needed capabilities.

Global Posture Initiative

    To be better prepared to respond rapidly to the threats of the 21st Century, the Administration is committed to transforming all aspects of the U.S. global defense posture, including our infrastructure, personnel, and equipment. In August 2004, the President announced the most comprehensive restructuring of U.S. military forces overseas since the end of the Korean War. The Global Posture Initiative entails working with more partners around the world to use our military capabilities more effectively. As a first step, the initiative repositions U.S. forces from Cold War bases to areas of strategic importance today. Such new basing strategies will provide the United States rapid access to areas where contingency operations may arise but where a large permanent presence is not required. In the next decade, 70,000 military personnel, and 100,000 family members and other civilians, are expected to return to the United States as part of this effort. The initiative will be implemented over the next 10 years. To begin this effort, the Administration has added $416 million in the 2006 Budget, and plans to request $3.5 billion more through 2011.

Tools of Transformation

    The Department is working on a wide range of new technologies, especially those that can protect military personnel while allowing them to perform their mission more effectively. The Department’s research and development efforts in this area are broad in scope. They range, for example, from the development of new materials for troop clothing to provide better camouflage and improved comfort and health, to new ways of detecting and neutralizing improvised explosive devices, chemical and biological agents, and radioactive materials. Developments in advanced materials have dramatically improved soldier body armor, providing unparalleled protection in combat. These and other technologies of the future are transforming how the United States will fight in future conflicts. Advances in new sensors, hypervelocity missiles, low-observable materials, and smart weapons will enable U.S. forces to fight smarter, more efficiently, and with greater precision than ever before.

    DOD continues to make major investments in the development and procurement of unmanned vehicles for ground, underwater, aerial, and combat use. Small unmanned aerial vehicles, for example, can provide information during ground combat to reduce casualties. Underwater vehicles are being developed for mine detection and avoidance operations. Ground vehicles are being used to identify and explode improvised explosive devices remotely. The ground and air vehicles are a central part of the Army’s Future Combat System and will provide a wide range of functions, including armed reconnaissance, fire support, autonomous logistics, and mine detection. Some of the forerunners of these new systems are being used today in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 2006 Budget provides $1.7 billion for these efforts.

    The 2006 Budget supports the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and its associated weapons systems by providing $613 million for continued development. The LCS, now in acquisition and testing, is a fast, small, and low-cost surface warship capable of operating in littoral (near-shore) waters. The primary missions of the LCS are anti-small-boat warfare, mine countermeasures, and anti-submarine warfare. Secondary missions will include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, homeland defense, maritime interdiction, and support for Special Operations forces.

    The President’s Budget supports substantial investments in advanced technology, particularly in remote sensing and high performance computing, to give our military additional advantages over our enemies. U.S. intelligence agencies and elements are employing advanced technology systems to acquire, process, and produce information from enemy signals, imagery, and human and other sources. Investments in communications will improve the effectiveness of troops in the field and their commanders in carrying out their missions. These technological developments are improving our ability to detect and counter the broad range of threats facing the United States.

MAKING THE HOMELAND MORE SECURE

    Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, America has engaged in a broad and determined effort to identify and pursue terrorists abroad and secure our citizens and interests at home. Working with the Congress, the President signed legislation to: break down the walls between law enforcement and terrorist investigations; reorganize the Federal Government by reforming and improving intelligence gathering and analysis; acquiring biological weapons countermeasures; enhancing security at our borders, airports, and in our communities; and strengthening America’s preparedness and response capabilities.

    This Administration's commitment to securing the homeland is reflected in this and past budgets: non-Defense homeland security spending has more than tripled since 2001. But homeland security is not simply a Federal responsibility; rather it requires a national effort with cooperation among all Government levels, the private sector, and individual citizens. The President’s 2006 Budget supports these partnerships in areas as diverse as researching and deploying radiological and nuclear detection systems; developing detectors for chemical agents; augmenting mass casualty care capabilities; and protecting our food supply and drinking water.

Identifying Terrorists and Preventing Their Entry

    The 2006 Budget places special focus on programs that seek to detect suspicious individuals or materials before they enter the country. Just as important are efforts to share information about suspicious individuals and materials with multiple levels of law enforcement.

    The FBI has transformed itself to make counterterrorism its top priority and has established a comprehensive intelligence program to prevent terrorist attacks, an effort that has been accelerated by the passage of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The President’s Budget supports the FBI’s counterterrorism priorities by providing $294 million for counterterrorism and counterintelligence initiatives and $117 million in new funding to bolster the intelligence program. This Budget boosts FBI funding by 11 percent, or $555 million, resulting in an overall FBI budget increase of 76 percent since 2001.

    To enhance information sharing on international travelers and to screen for terrorists, the President also issued a directive that called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other agencies to improve and better coordinate screening of people, cargo, and conveyances. The Budget reflects a new coordination of offices to oversee screening efforts and set screening standards. This office will consolidate several major initiatives within the Border and Transportation Security Directorate, including: US-VISIT, the Secure Flight Program, and the Transportation Worker Identification Credential Program. The 2006 Budget also increases funding for these programs by $344 million, including $50 million to accelerate the deployment of US-VISIT and $49 million to implement Secure Flight, a program that will improve security checks of airline passengers names through a more effective and efficient automated process.

    The 2006 Budget provides $104 million for the multi-agency Terrorist Screening Center (TSC), a $75 million increase over 2005, to enable TSC to meet its increasing responsibilities in developing and managing a consolidated terror screening watch list, particularly in support of Secure Flight. To date, TSC has received approximately 17,000 calls, of which 8,500 were a positive match with the database. TSC staff currently fields nearly 100 calls per day from Federal, State, and local law enforcement representatives.

    The Budget also provides a $21 million increase for DHS' IDENT fingerprint system and funding for increased interviews, screening, and information sharing between Federal agencies on visa applicants; the development and production of new machine-readable biometric U.S. passports; and for increased interoperability of border security and counterterrorism systems for various agencies. The State Department is also leading a U.S. effort to collect biometric information on known and suspected terrorists from foreign governments.

Defending Against Catastrophic Threats

    The Administration has made unprecedented investments to counter possible terrorist threats. The 2006 Budget supports deployment of existing counterterrorism technology and focuses America’s scientific and technical expertise on new solutions.

    Threats to Food and Agriculture. The 2005 Budget contained significant funding to protect the safety of the Nation’s food system from contamination by terrorists. The 2006 Budget continues this commitment by including $596 million, an increase of $143 million, to improve our ability to detect and contain contamination. The 2006 Budget also includes $58 million to support the establishment and maintenance of laboratories to analyze samples of potentially contaminated food as quickly as possible. For example, the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) links strategically located State and Federal laboratories that analyze food samples in the event of a biological, radiological, or chemical terrorist attack in this country. FERN laboratories will be participating in the Electronic Laboratory Exchange Network (eLEXNET), an integrated information network, which is designed to allow health officials across the Nation to compare, share and coordinate laboratory analysis findings and potentially identify contaminated foods. The Budget also includes funding for border inspections of imported foods, research on new methods to prevent food contamination, and expansion of laboratories to rapidly identify human and animal disease pathogens of concern.

EPA scientist sorting spores of an anthrax surrogate to evaluate sampling methods that will confirm decontamination of structures.

    Radiological, Biological, and Chemical Threats. The 2006 Budget significantly increases funding to prevent nuclear terrorism by securing nuclear materials at their source and by detecting and interdicting the materials in transit. DOD’s Cooperative Threat Reduction program will spend $416 million to help dismantle weapons of mass destruction infrastructure in the former Soviet Union to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) will spend $343 million in Russia and other regions of concern to secure vulnerable nuclear weapons and weapons-usable material, and to install detection equipment at overseas border crossings and ports to prevent and detect the illicit transfer of nuclear material. The Megaports program, which has been enthusiastically received by our overseas partners since its inception in 2003, equips overseas ports with radiation detection equipment and provides training to foreign law enforcement officials so that they can better detect, deter, and interdict illicit trafficking in radioactive materials. In 2006, NNSA will increase funding for Megaports by 450 percent, as more countries join this U.S.-led international effort.

    A new Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) is being created to develop and deploy a comprehensive domestic system to detect and report any attempt to import, assemble, or transport a nuclear explosive device, fissile material, or radiological material intended for illicit use. The DNDO will be responsible for developing a comprehensive national nuclear detection architecture. The DNDO will also work with State and local grant recipients to ensure that their radiation detection assets work in concert with Federal detection efforts.

    Since 2001, more than $5 billion has been provided to the National Institutes of Health for research and development of advanced medical countermeasures against the most dangerous biological threat agents. The 2006 Budget builds on this investment with an additional $1.7 billion to support both the basic research that leads to breakthroughs in scientific knowledge, and applied research and development that converts that knowledge into effective countermeasures such as vaccines and treatments. In 2004, the Congress provided $5.6 billion for the President’s Project BioShield initiative that will provide the funding to acquire these countermeasures to protect America.

    The DHS Biological Countermeasures Office budget request is $385 million in 2006, a $22 million increase that will help develop vaccines to defend our food supply from intentional or accidental introduction of animal diseases into the country. These vaccines will help protect the Nation from the catastrophic economic consequences a major disease outbreak would cause to the agricultural sector. The Budget also requests funding for a Next Generation Animal Disease Center that will be able to analyze pathogens from large animals.

    The 2006 Budget doubles the spending for chemical agent research and development conducted by DHS, to $107 million, including $36 million in new spending on countermeasures to non-traditional chemical agent threats. This funding level includes the creation of a state-of-the-art materials testing facility that will be housed within DOD’s chemical countermeasures programs. The Budget also provides NIH with $50 million to research medical countermeasures to chemical agents.

    DOD has increased funding by $223 million to boost efforts in the areas of agent detection, early warning, decontamination, and medical countermeasures for chemical and biological threats. The Budget proposes funding to modernize and upgrade laboratories belonging to the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, which provide world-class scientific research and technical expertise on biological agents, emerging infectious disease agents, and chemical agents. The funding will help these agencies integrate into the interagency National Biodefense Campus, thereby improving our scientific efforts to defend against biological warfare.

    Launched in 2005, the National Biosurveillance Initiative directed Federal agencies to enhance biosurveillance capabilities to reduce the detection time following an attack, confirm the size and characteristics of the attack, and initiate a response. The initiative establishes a National Biosurveillance Integration System at DHS to combine and analyze information collected from human, animal and plant health, food and environmental monitoring systems. Such an analysis, combined with evolving threat and intelligence information, will provide greater context for those making critical homeland defense decisions.

    Project BioWatch is designed to detect the release of dangerous biological or chemical agents into the environment. The BioWatch program operates in more than 30 major metropolitan areas, and is designed to provide early warning of a large-scale biological weapons attack and accelerate the distribution of life saving treatment and preventative measures before the development of serious and widespread illnesses.

    Threats to Aviation. DHS is creating a new Explosives Office to identify the best way to protect against explosives, especially at high-threat venues. The Department’s Science and Technology Directorate will spend more than $150 million on aviation explosives detection research, and will continue to deploy more advanced equipment and systems at airports. The Transportation Security Administration will ensure improved explosives detection screening of airline passengers by spending a total of $100 million in 2005 and 2006 to deploy new technologies at airport checkpoints. The Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness will designate explosives detection and mitigation as a national initiative for 2006 grant awards.

    In addition, the DHS Science and Technology Directorate proposes to spend $110 million in 2006 to continue research on the viability of countermeasures for commercial aircraft against the threat of shoulder-fired missiles known as Man-Portable Air Defense Systems.

The Beagle Brigade checks passengers for illegal food products.

    Threats to Other Infrastructure. The 2006 Budget provides over $2 billion to ensure the security of our Nation’s ports. Funding will primarily support the Coast Guard’s ports, waterways, and coastal security program ($1.9 billion in discretionary funding), and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) container security initiatives. In addition, the Budget includes $600 million for Targeted Infrastructure Protection (TIP) grants to be allocated by the Secretary to address the unique requirements of ports and other critical infrastructure.

    CBP screens 100 percent of cargo entering our seaports, and all cargo that is identified as a potential threat is inspected using large x-ray and radiation detection equipment. The CBP strategy is to rule out potential threats before arrival at our borders and ports. This year, 6 percent of total cargo containers were identified as potential threats and were physically inspected immediately upon arrival. CBP manages both the Container Security Initiative and the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. Both programs aim to secure containers in the early stages of shipping, before they arrive in the United States. The 2006 Budget includes an additional $14 million to support continued expansion of these programs.

    EPA coordinates protection of the Nation’s drinking water and water treatment systems. The 2006 Budget proposes $44 million to support the initial deployment in five cities of an early warning system, called Water Sentinel, to detect terrorist attacks on drinking water systems and a laboratory network to support water surveillance and emergency response.

A 25-foot Defender class security boat from Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91106 keeps watch over passenger vessels and high profile landmarks in New York Harbor.

    DHS’ Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate (IAIP), identifies the critical infrastructure that if attacked and destroyed could cause catastrophic health effects or mass casualties. With site visits and data collection, IAIP develops site security guidelines for nuclear power plants and chemical facilities. Security guidelines are also being developed for spent nuclear fuel, petroleum refineries, natural gas facilities, and railroads. While private owners remain responsible for security, the $600 million TIP program will be available to supplement critical protection efforts. To increase collaboration among all levels of government, IAIP is improving the sharing of information by expanding the Homeland Security Information Network to all States and at-risk infrastructure sites across the Nation. The 2006 Budget provides $530 million for IAIP’s infrastructure protection activities.

Preparedness and Response

    Decontamination Strategic Planning and Research. The Budget requests $31 million in new funding for EPA planning and research for decontamination events. Of this funding, $12 million would be dedicated to the development of an Environmental Laboratory Preparedness Response (ELPR) program, which will fund the initial planning and development of a nationwide laboratory network for surveillance and surge purposes in the event of a terrorist attack. Led by the EPA, collaborative research efforts are underway to produce risk assessment methods, models, and guidance documents for first responders and decision makers responsible for containment, decontamination, and remediation in response to chemical, biological, or radiological attacks. EPA’s National Homeland Security Research Center works closely with DHS to ensure that decontamination research supports DHS priorities. As directed by the President, research continues in development and validation of environmental sampling and analysis methods for known and emerging biological threat agents.

    Catastrophic Response/Medical Surge Capacity. The 2006 Budget includes $20 million to continue DHS’ catastrophic incident response planning initiative that coordinates with Federal, State, and local government agencies. Building on past DHS efforts to integrate multiple response plans into the National Incident Management system to support the National Response Plan, this initiative encourages greater State and local involvement. Planning for mass casualty events will be a major focus area for DHS homeland security grants.

    In the event of a large-scale mass casualty attack in one or more cities, existing health care providers could be overwhelmed. While DHS will remain responsible for immediate medical response capabilities, Department of Health and Human Services will support additional mass casualty capabilities, including the purchase and storage of deployable care units consisting of beds and medical supplies in order to provide care for days or weeks, if necessary. The Budget also supports pre-event licensure and credentialing of qualified health care providers to ensure that they will be ready in the case of a mass casualty incident.

Emergency responders in Texarkana, Texas, participate in a full-scale exercise of the community's preparedness for responding to terrorism incidents involving weapons of mass destruction. The exercise was conducted by the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center, which is part of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium.

    Restructuring State and Local First-Responder Preparedness Funding. Over the last four years, Federal agencies have awarded more than $17 billion in grants to assist State and local homeland security efforts. Many high-risk jurisdictions need to enhance their capabilities to prevent and respond to potential terrorist attacks. The 2006 Budget restructures DHS grant programs to ensure funds are targeted to address the greatest risks, vulnerabilities, and needs. Over $2 billion in State and regional grants previously awarded through formulas will instead be allocated through a discretionary process based on the House-approved Faster, Smarter, First Responder Act. States and eligible regions will gain more flexibility to request the funding they need, while the Secretary of Homeland Security will have greater authority to allocate funds based on need, risk, and the achievement of national preparedness goals.

Conclusion

    In protecting America, the Federal Government must defeat terrorism before it reaches our shores. We are attacking terrorists where they train, and cutting off their resources throughout the world. We are also promoting a forward strategy of freedom and reform, so that the terrorists’ message increasingly loses its force and appeal. And because terrorists do not choose military targets, we are preparing our homeland to detect and deter attacks on civilians, and to respond if necessary to emergencies. The 2006 Budget significantly increases resources to the continuing challenge of protecting America’s freedom and promoting the freedom of the world.