Since September 11, states and cities have been forced to dig deep into their coffers to pay for unexpected emergency programs.  I have met with Rhode Island officials to learn how they have responded to this crisis and to gauge their need for additional counterterrorism and security improvements.  In the six weeks following the terrorist attacks, my state spent $18 million on homeland security and needs $56 million more to upgrade emergency response and public health systems.  State and local governments have done an exceptional job at pinpointing and prioritizing areas in need of improvement to ensure the safety of their citizens, and Congress must act now to provide them with the resources they require.

Rhode Island’s leaders recognize that law enforcement and emergency responders represent the first line of defense in the domestic fight against terrorism.  As a result, they hope to invest $5.8 million for improvements in coordinated emergency response efforts.  Through new equipment and training for HAZMAT teams, the state will be better prepared to deal with the threat of weapons of mass destruction.  Also, the anthrax attacks highlight the need for a strong public health infrastructure, and Rhode Island has proposed a $48 million plan to enhance medical surveillance, research, and investigation.   Our health officials must be prepared to identify a biological attack in its early stages, respond swiftly to the threat, and prevent further contamination.  As an original cosponsor of the Bioterrorism Prevention Act, which would provide $7 billion to improve our national public health infrastructure, I applaud Mr. Obey for proposing funding to address the threat of bioterrorism in our communities.

One particularly important provision included in the Obey amendment was a budget increase for the Coast Guard, which has taken on new responsibilities since September 11.  Daily life in Rhode Island is intricately tied to the ocean and the Narragansett Bay.  Commercial fishing netted $79 million for the state economy in 1999, and recreational boating is a popular pastime among our residents.  The Coast Guard’s dependable presence and its work to keep our seaways safe have made them well-respected among our boaters.  However, the Coast Guard has been plagued by dwindling budgets in recent years, preventing personnel increases and equipment improvements.  As a result, of the 41 nations with coastal patrols, the U.S. Coast Guard now has the 39th-oldest fleet.  Nonetheless, the federal government expects the Coast Guard to patrol the nation’s 361 ports and increase inspections of foreign vessels, and 120 Rhode Island reservists have been called to this mission.  Commandant Admiral James Loy has pleaded with Congress to raise funding levels for the Coast Guard, but we have again taken the wind out of their sails.

Moreover, the Obey amendment would have provided critical funding to strengthen our border control.  Each day, 1.25 million people, five hundred thousand vehicles and fifty thousand containers cross our borders, yet far too few vehicles, containers, packages, and other possessions are properly checked.  We must provide the Border Control with the resources needed to detect and prevent terrorism at our borders.

Although the House was not able to address these and many other concerns by voting on the Obey amendment, I strongly encourage my colleagues to continue pushing for increased homeland security funding so that we may provide Americans the protection and peace-of-mind that they deserve.