Commerce Secretary Don Evans and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge Showcase Emerging Security Technology with Local Firefighters

Washington, DC - U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge today joined representatives from the Arlington and Fairfax Fire Departments who were on the scene at the Pentagon on Sept. 11 and high-tech industry CEOs for the "Emerging Security Technologies Expo""

Demonstrations of government and private industry technologies to help law enforcement, the military and the private sector to meet security needs were on display.

"I am proud to showcase some of the breakthrough technological innovation happening at Commerce Department labs and at private companies across America," Evans said. "The applications displayed here offer a glimpse of how important technology is to the economic and homeland security of all Americans, and to the success of courageous first-responders like the firefighters with us today."

"The President's commitment to these types of projects is evident in his proposed budget, which represents a record-high $57 billion for science and technology. This Administration has made it clear that science and technology play an integral role in the President's three national priorities: winning the war on terrorism, maintaining homeland security, and fostering economic recovery," added Evans.

NIST Director Arden Bement, Senator George Allen, Commerce Secretary Don Evans and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge examing technology at the Emerging Security Technologies Expo.

Currently, the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting more than 75 projects that support law enforcement, military operations, emergency services, airport and building security, and cyber security. The President has requested an additional $53 million in additional funds to develop state-of-the-art science and technology infrastructure needed to strengthen and safeguard America's economic foundations and security capabilities.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), also a part of the Department of Commerce, is currently mapping and surveying major ports and waterways to protect economic and port security along the nation's marine transportation system, through which 95% of U.S. imports and exports are shipped. NOAA is also providing forecasting and satellite technology for the detection and characterization of threats to homeland security. The Administration is requesting an additional $26.4 million for these technologies.

The Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), through its research and engineering laboratory, is focusing on providing first-responders with better communication in times of crisis, improving public safety networks and researching new uses of the Internet for public safety communications.

Government representatives and private companies with displays at the expo included: NIST NOAA NTIA Acsys Biometrics, Marietta, Ga.; AT&T, New York, N.Y.; BEA Systems, Inc., San Jose, Calif.; Chem Image, Cingular Wireless, Atlanta, Ga.; ComCARE Alliance, Washington, D.C.; Cyveillance, Inc., Arlington, Va; Hughes Associates, Inc., Baltimore, Md; Identix, Los Gatos, Calif.; Ingersoll-Rand, Co., Woodcliff Lake, N.J.; Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, Ill.; Novell, Inc., Provo, Utah; Recourse Technologies, Redwood City, Calif.; Saflink, Corp., Bellevue, Wash.; Servervault, Inc., Dulles, Va.; Synaptek, Inc., Houston, Texas; Time Domain, Corp., Huntsville, Ala.; VoiceStream Wireless Corp., Bellevue, Wash.; Volt Information Science, Inc., New York, N.Y.; and Xtreme Spectrum, Vienna, Va.

Webcast feeds of the Expo (RealPlayer required; available at 3pm Saturday 9th) -

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