Washington, DC
Remarks as Prepared

Thank you for that introduction.  I'm honored to be here this morning with the men and women of the National Volunteer Fire Council -- an organization that continues to be a valued partner of our Department.  

While the Department of Homeland Security is a little more than a year old, the work of securing our hometowns and safeguarding our communities has been an ongoing effort since the days when a different "George W" held the office of President.  

An effort that has been led through the years by America's dedicated first responders -- firefighters, law enforcement, rescue service personnel -- ordinary men and women who have forged a proud tradition of service and dedication to the safe-keeping of our nation.  

Today -- from California to Connecticut -- from urban areas to small rural towns -- your fellow firefighters will continue that tradition by answering the fire call, rushing to aid those in need and putting their lives on the line.  

On September 11th, the entire world was able to see first-hand the sacrifices firefighters and other first responders are called to make on a daily basis -- and the incredible, steadfast courage they exhibit in making them.

September 11th completely re-defined the homeland security mission.  In an instant, we came face to face with an enemy bent on the destruction of our way of life, capable of carrying out catastrophic attacks to achieve their sadistic goals, and unscrupulous in their regard for the innocent.

And that new reality of terrorism on American soil required a swift and drastic change to our understanding of what it means to secure America.  

Before September 11th, counties, cities, and states for the most part worked independently to achieve their security goals and objectives.  The problem with that approach is that if security goals aren't integrated then there are going to be holes and gaps -- the type of weaknesses terrorists look to exploit.  That's why after September 11th, it became abundantly clear that securing our homeland would require all those different entities to come together around a shared goal of protecting our nation and our citizens from those who would seek to do us harm.  

It would require a homeland security vision that, at its core, is based on partnerships.  A vision of shared leadership and shared responsibility -- a regional approach -- counties, cities, and states working together through mutual aid agreements, interoperable communications, statewide intelligence centers, community and citizen participation -- all these necessary elements communicating and coordinating in the event of a crisis.

For more than two years now, we have worked to build upon that vision -- to build that security capacity from the ground up and to build strong partnerships across all segments of our society -- from the private sector to state, tribal and local governments to the first responder community -- in order to accomplish our vision of a strong and safe nation.

I've often said that for the homeland to be secure, the hometown must first be secure, so it follows that first responders such as yourselves -- who have been on the front lines protecting our communities for generations -- are integral to the success of protecting our nation against the new threat of terrorism.

Washington can be expected to lead, but we cannot, nor should not, micro-manage the protection of our country.  Nowhere is this more important than in the area of emergency preparedness and response.  In the end, firefighters, emergency personnel, and local officials on the ground understand the needs of your individual communities better than anyone.  

At Homeland Security we have worked to provide a framework for emergency preparedness planning that will guide and coordinate the integration of our national response capabilities, but also will ensure that localities and states still have the freedom to make the necessary decisions to ensure the highest level of protection for their citizens.  This National Response Plan will pull together all of the current federal response capabilities under a single "all hazards" system for prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

The plan is being developed with guidance from all stakeholders -- federal government agencies, state, local, and tribal officials, as well as first responders. This working blueprint will enhance our nation's capabilities and unify our efforts to prevent, prepare, respond and recover from potential threats, attacks or disasters.

A cornerstone of this plan has been the creation of the National Incident Management System -- or NIMS -- as it's known in the land of acronyms.  As many of you know, NIMS is based on the highly successful Incident Command System developed and used for more than 30 years by America's fire services.  

NIMS is the nation's first-ever multi-discipline, intergovernmental, standardized incident management plan -- a framework to create a unified command system for federal, state, tribal and local governments and the response community.

Under NIMS, all levels of government will share a common set of terminologies, protocols and processes to ensure a seamless, coordinated response.  It puts into practice the concept of "one mission, one team, one fight" -- across all levels of government.  First responders are often the first on the scene and the last to leave, and your ability to communicate and work together is paramount.

One of the great tragedies of our response at the World Trade Center was that even within New York City, the Police Department radios couldn't transmit to the Fire Department radios.  And when engine companies rushed in from nearby neighborhoods, some couplings that fit "hoses to hydrants" weren't compatible.

From these disappointments and wake-up calls emerged a resolve not to let an incompatible radio frequency or a too-small/too-large piece of safety equipment impede the ability of brave men and women to save the lives of citizens -- as well as their own.  That’s why we're working to develop standards that fit into the NIMS framework and improve your ability to operate effectively across county, city, and even state lines.  

Already, Homeland Security has identified technical specifications for a baseline interoperable communications system as the short-term solution to allow first responders to communicate by voice -- no matter what frequency they're on or mode they use.

And recently, we also announced the first standards regarding personal protective equipment, in order to protect first responders against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards.  These standards, which will assist state and local procurement officials and manufacturers, are intended to provide emergency personnel with the best available protective gear.

Of course having a plan is only the beginning.  As we work to improve our ability to respond to a crisis, one of our prime responsibilities at Homeland Security is to ensure that our first responders have the right equipment, the right training and the right amount of support to continue to do their jobs well.

This Department has been unwavering in its commitment to this charge.  Since the tragedy of September 11, 2001, we have allocated or awarded well over $8 billion to assist and equip our Nation's first responders.  And in this year's budget, the President has requested an additional $3.6 billion to further bolster our first responders' ongoing efforts.

Our citizens count on you to keep them safe.  But we cannot allow your safety to be compromised.  That is why, in addition to first responder funding, this Administration has strongly supported the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.  President Bush is the first president to call specifically for funding the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program in his budget.  He did this prior to September 11th, and quickly utilized this program after 9-11 to shore up support for our fire and rescue services.    

When the FY 2004 grant process finishes, we will have distributed close to $2 billion under this program to more than 20,000 local fire departments, and the President has proposed another $500 million in this year's budget.  

As many of you know, we have recently moved the Firefighters Grant Program from FEMA to our Office for Domestic Preparedness.  This move marks an effort on our part to consolidate all of our grants in one place, so that the process can become more efficient for both the applicant and the Department.

We are constantly looking for ways to streamline the grant process and make it more user-friendly.  Already with FIRE grants, we have added help screens, provided a 1-800 assistance call center, provided a tutorial CD in every application packet, as well as offered extensive grant applicant workshops -- more than 340 across the country since the beginning of the year.  

In addition, I have asked ODP to aggressively review the application and look for ways that we can further simplify the application itself.  Of course, all the facets of the FIRE grant process that have generated such positive feedback from you -- the online application, direct funding, peer review process, and the grant workshop assistance -- will continue to be a part of the program.  

And I want to assure you that although the process will be facilitated by a new office, the focus and purpose will not change.  At Homeland Security, we understand that there are basic needs that must be met in firehouses all over our country.  In helping equip communities and first responders to meet the threat of terrorism, we can't neglect the fundamentals.  

Whether fighting an act of terrorism or fighting a fire -- firefighters need proper breathing equipment, boots, a helmet, and protective gear.  This grant program helps ensure that firefighters are getting the basic equipment they need to do their jobs, even as you take on more difficult responsibilities and challenges in your expanded post 9/11 role.  

With that in mind, we have looked for ways beyond just funding that can support the mission of our nation's firefighters.    

Homeland Security is working closely with the National Volunteer Fire Council -- as well as several other firefighter organizations -- to build a national Fire Corps program that will fall under the umbrella of Citizen Corps.  

By partnering with the fire community to create Fire Corps, we will offer citizens in every neighborhood across America an opportunity to support their local firehouse.  Citizen volunteers can have an impact in a variety of ways.  Some may choose to spread the word about fire prevention or educate the community on fire safety or help with routine administrative tasks.  But all in choosing to serve will give firefighters more time and resources to pursue their critical, highly skilled responsibilities on the front lines of emergency response -- where they are needed most.  

We know that the National Volunteer Fire Council will play an instrumental role in getting this program up and running.  And I want to thank you in advance for your willingness to be a part of building this program from the ground up.

Citizen Corps has been a tremendous grassroots tool to engage Americans at an individual level to invest in the security of their community.  As I mentioned earlier, homeland security is about shared responsibility -- and all of us -- including citizens have a role to play.

Fire Corps will be another way in which we can harness the spirit of volunteerism in our nation to empower citizens to make a difference in their communities and ultimately their country.   The type of difference that those of you in this room make on a daily basis, the type of difference that generations of firefighters have made in constant, selfless service to others.

You know it's been said that the men and women of Homeland Security have to be right more than a billion times per year -- terrorists, only once. I know that kind of pressure is something the fire community can understand.

So as we build a Department dedicated to Homeland Security -- my goal and hope is that we forge a tradition of unyielding commitment and unfaltering sacrifice that aspires to the tradition of "hometown security" passionately pursued by a long line of heroes -- known simply to all of us as firefighters.

Thank you.

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