STIMULUS
PACKAGE INCLUDES LIEBERMAN IT FUND
$1 Billion Would Fund Technologies That Improve
Homeland Security
November 14, 2001
WASHINGTON - Senator Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.,
announced that his proposal to establish a $1
billion information technology fund has been
included in the economic stimulus package offered
by Democratic leaders Tuesday.
The fund, to be managed by the Office of
Management and Budget, would be dedicated to
projects that advance homeland security or
information security - projects, for example,
that would improve safety at airports, provide
early detection of biological attacks, or better
secure our borders.
In addition to improving homeland security,
the proposal also would stimulate the flagging
information technology sector, which drove the
nations unprecedented economic growth over
the past decade.
What better use could there be for an
economic stimulus package than to put it to work
in the war on terrorism? Lieberman
asked. This fund will provide a shot
in the arm to the very important high tech sector.
But more importantly, it will help to strengthen
our homeland defenses so that Americans feel safe
at home.
The IT fund, patterned after the Y2K fund, would
be administered by OMB to ensure projects are
effectively managed and demonstrate measurable
benefits. Among the potential uses
of the fund:
?Aviation
security. Funding of an early warning
detection system that could detect
potential threats at the time of booking,
partially through the creation of a secure
Intranet between relevant law enforcement
agencies. Smart cards combined with
biometrics could improve security at the time of
check-in, by confirming the passengers
identity, checking fingerprints or facial
patterns against terrorist watchlists, and making
sure all baggage is accounted for. Funds
could also pay for more bulk explosive scanners
for airports.
?Health
sector: A national biological detection
system could use secure software and biological
sensors to provide early warning of biological
incidents. The same high speed
communication infrastructure could be used to
provide on-line training on how to respond to
chemical and biological incidents or other
emergencies, and enable expert assistance through
tele-medicine.
?Transportation/Shipping
sectors: Technology and software could
provide for better traffic management when
evacuation from an urban area becomes necessary.
A tracking system could monitor the movement of
hazardous materials around the country. New
technologies could provide real-time tracking of
U.S. bound shipping containers, to allow better
detection and location of high-risk
shipments.
?Immigration/Secure
Borders: Automatic scanning of passport
photos could be tied to a national database, and
smart-chips in passports and visas could
authenticate the identity of the holder. A
special database linking universities and the INS
could immediately detect student visa violations.
High-speed communications could link all border
patrol, INS, and Customs networks. Remote
sensors could monitor unpopulated border areas
for illegal crossings.
?Information
security: Better information security could
ensure secure data communications between
agencies, within agencies, and between federal
agencies and other entities. Secure data
communications with the government are especially
important to critical sectors of the economy,
such as transportation, banking, and energy, and
to agencies involved in homeland defense, such as
law enforcement, public health, and emergency
preparedness and response.
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