April 24, 2007   LIEBERMAN, COLLINS CITE “MAJOR WEAKNESSES” IN DISASTER COMMUNICATION PLANS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS   WASHINGTON – Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Ranking Member Susan Collins, R-Me., Tuesday expressed disappointment that the Department of Homeland Security has not moved more efficiently to improve its interoperability communications program and warned that without a strategic approach and firm leadership first responders will continue to be imperiled because of an inability to communicate effectively during an emergency or disaster. In a letter dated April 24, 2007, to Department Secretary Michael Chertoff, the senators expressed serious concern about the ability of first responders at all levels of government to communicate during a disaster. Based on an April 2, 2007, Government Accountability Office (GAO) report titled, “Much Work Remains to Improve Communications Interoperability,” the senators identified several “major weaknesses” in the Department’s interoperability program, including inadequate procedures to assess grant requests; poor communications planning among federal, state and local governments; ambiguous and incomplete radio standards; and a lack of training that would test the effectiveness of interoperability plans. The Committee has led the way on legislation to improve interoperable communications, drafting, negotiating, and passing the Post-Katrina Reform Act, signed into law in October 2004, which established a new Office of Emergency Communications within DHS, and the Improving America’s Security Act of 2007, passed by the Senate in March, which would create a new DHS grant program dedicated to improving interoperable communications. To access the full text of the letter, click here: -30-   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 April 2007 Press Releases   April 26 - LIEBERMAN PRAISES HOUSING EXTENSION FOR DISPLACED HURRICANE VICTIMS   April 24 current Press Release   April 23 - LIEBERMAN, COLLINS EXAMINE CAMPUS SECURITY   April 19 - LIEBERMAN PLEDGES TO BRING D.C. VOTING RIGHTS BILL BEFORE THE SENATE   April 19 - LIEBERMAN, COLLINS WARN OF “DIRE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES” OF GLOBAL WARMING FOR INSURERS, TAXPAYERS, THE NATION   April 18 - SENATE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS APPROVES NOMINEE GREGORY B. CADE   April 17 - LIEBERMAN, COLLINS SEEK GAO ANALYSIS OF MASS CARE CAPABILITIES IN A MAJOR DISASTER   April 16 - LIEBERMAN PREDICTS SUCCESS OF DC VOTING RIGHTS BILL   April 16 - LIEBERMAN SEEKS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM DEPT OF EDUCATION TO DETERMINE IF PRIVACY ACT WAS VIOLATED   April 2 - LIEBERMAN REMAINS CONCERNED ABOUT FEDERAL PREEMPTION
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