(Washington, D.C.)–Congressman Jim Langevin, a member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, today announced his support for legislation that would provide funding to establish a Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (CST), which would provide an immediate and rapid response to a suspected or actual attack. 

Currently, Rhode Island lacks a CST.  To address this potential security shortfall, Langevin is co-sponsoring the "Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team Bill, which requires, by September 30, 2004, the Department of Defense to fully implement the additional WMD-CSTs needed to ensure all states are fully prepared to respond to terrorist threats.

"As we continue to shore up our homeland security apparatus throughout the nation, it is critical that all states, regardless of size or population, have the response mechanisms in place to effectively cope with a disaster," said Congressman Langevin.  "Implementing a Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team would greatly enhance the state's emergency preparedness efforts."

The mission of the CST is to support civil authorities at Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive incident (CBRNE) sites by identifying CBRNE agents/substances, assessing current and projected consequences, advising on response measures, and assisting with appropriate requests for additional support. CSTs are assigned to complement and enhance, not duplicate, state CBRNE capabilities.

Currently, only 32 CSTs are fielded by the Department of Defense, in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California (2), Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and West Virginia.

"Congress must be committed to protecting the security of all states," added Langevin.  “Extending civil support teams to those states that currently lack them is yet another means to thwart and mitigate terrorist attacks."

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