Lieberman
Calls for Greater Planning, Coordination, Communication
Between Federal, State and Local Governments
December
11, 2001
WASHINGTON - Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman
Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., Tuesday expressed concern that a lack
of communication and coordination between the federal and
local governments may impair efforts to protect Americans from
terrorism and guarantee a “swift, sure and seamless
response” in the event of future attacks.
“Too often, in responding to homeland security
threats we’ve faced to date, the federal and local
governments have not worked hand in hand, but have tripped
over each other’s feet,” Lieberman said.
“Because this is the first modern war fought both
abroad and on our homefront, the war against terrorism
represents the intersection of one traditional federal
responsibility—waging war and securing the nation—and one
traditional local government responsibility—providing for
the public health and safety of our communities,” Lieberman
continued. “As
a result, it should lead us to rethink some traditional
federal relationships and reaffirm others, with the goal of
leveraging our strengths to make us a more secure society.”
In addition to the communication gap, another problem
cited during the hearing is a lack of funding needed to build
the necessary security infrastructure.
According to reports released by the National Governors
Association and the National Association of Counties the cost
of homeland security efforts could be as high as $3 billion or
$4 billion in the coming year.
Witness Marc Morial, Mayor of New Orleans and President
of the United States Conference of Mayors highlighted these
coordination and fiscal concerns, releasing the final report
of the Conferences’ Mayors Emergency, Safety and Security
Summit, at the hearing. The
report, entitled “A National Action Plan for Safety and
Security in America’s Cities,” makes recommendations on
emergency preparedness, transportation security, and
federal-local law enforcement.
Lieberman praised Homeland Security Director Tom
Ridge’s plan to form a state and local advisory committee,
but questioned the office’s ability to streamline
communication and coordination.
“The challenge is exacerbated by the fragmented
approach to counter-terrorism at the federal level - an
approach that I believe would be greatly improved by the
creation of a full-fledged, cabinet-level Department of
Homeland Security with clear lines of authority and the power
to get things done,” Lieberman said.
On October 11 of this year, Lieberman and Senator Arlen
Specter, R-Penn., introduced the Department of National
Homeland Security Act of 2001. The legislation, based largely
on the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on National
Security/21st Century, calls for the consolidation of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Customs Service, the
Border Patrol, the Coast Guard and certain other agencies
responsible for critical infrastructure protection under one
administrative office that would plan and coordinate
government activities relating to homeland security. |