The dangerous times in which we live present great challenges to our generation.  Among these are threats posed by weapons of mass destruction and international terrorism, and the difficulty of ensuring our national security.  After the attacks on September 11, Americans learned that our homeland is vulnerable to attack and that we must do more to protect and secure our nation.  These challenges and responsibilities demand strong leadership, and that is why I was pleased to unveil a proposal entitled Real Security: a national security plan that will take our country in a new direction, one that is both tough and smart.

Securing Nevada
Each member of Congress has an obligation to uphold and defend the Constitution and our nation.  This is a responsibility I take very seriously, and I have been doing everything I can to strengthen our country’s security, as well as improving security in Nevada.  Because of the tremendous population growth in Nevada and the more than 40 million annual visitors, it is essential that federal, state, and local officials continually improve their communication and coordination for homeland security purposes.  I have been working to provide increased homeland security funding for Las Vegas and Reno, and I will continue to work toward additional funding for our local law enforcement officials.  For example, I have worked with Secretary Chertoff to ensure that Las Vegas remained on the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) funding list for fiscal year 2008.  This funding is vital to Nevada first responders in their fight to protect the people of Nevada and the millions of tourist who visit the state each year.

That is why I introduced the Improving America’s Security Act (S. 4) as one of my top priorities in the 110th Congress.  This important legislation continues the work of Congress to strengthen homeland security and build upon the 9/11 Commission's recommendations.  With the recent passage of my legislation, there will be a change to the homeland security grant formula to account for short-term populations, like tourists.  For five years, the largest homeland security grant programs have distributed funds using a formula that arbitrarily sets aside a large portion of funds to be divided equally among the states, regardless of size or need.  In addition, it reduces the amount of funding that can be allocated to states with highest risks, such as Nevada.  The new formula will be distributed overwhelmingly based on the risk to an area from a terrorist attack.  The funds would be allocated through Urban Area Security Grants, State Homeland Security Grants, Emergency Management Performance Grants, and emergency communications and interoperability grants.  Meanwhile, Nevada will receive more than $20 million in federal funding for homeland security this year.

Protecting Our Courthouses
I have been working hard to ensure that our courthouses are protected and shootings, such as the one that injured Judge Chuck Welter in Reno last year, do not take place again.  In December 2007, the Senate passed The Court Security Improvement Act which authorizes $45 million in grants for court security improvements and new equipment for security personnel.  This bill also enhances criminal penalties for assaulting public officials, prosecutors, and witnesses, and increases protection for judges and their families against the malicious publication of their personal information by those who intend them harm.  In order to preserve the freedom and integrity of our judiciary, court personnel must be protected from attacks and reprisals.  

Protecting Our Ports and Borders
Currently, only five percent of all cargo coming into the United States is scanned, and the United States has only invested a fraction of what it spends on aviation security on enhancing port security.  Our nation’s ports and the cargo that comes through them are some of the most vulnerable targets we have.  With the passage of the Improving America’s Security Act (S. 4) in March 2007, Homeland Security officials will now develop a plan with yearly benchmarks that leads to 100 percent scanning of cargo containers entering U.S. ports.

Airport Funding
I have been working for years for extra security forces and will keep working to provide security as Nevada’s growth demands.  I am pleased that approximately sixty transportation security officers have temporarily joined McCarran International Airport’s screening security force and I am working with the Transportation Security Administration to ensure that permanent security officers are assigned to commensurate with the growth at McCarran International Airport.  Security and screening forces will also help strengthen the Southern Nevada economy.

First Responders
Our local police, firefighters, and those who serve in the National Guard are the front lines in our fight for real security.  First-responders are critical to our national security, and I have always been a strong supporter of funding for local law enforcement.  I have traveled throughout Nevada over the course of the year, speaking with officials from Churchill County to Nye County.  I learned that homeland security is hometown security, and I remain committed to provide first responders with the training, staffing, equipment, and technology they need.