[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 COMMUNITY PROTECTION AND RESPONSE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2003

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the Community Protection 
and Response Act of 2003 to eliminate confusion in terrorist prevention 
and response.
  One of the major lessons learned in the aftermath of the September 
11th, attacks is that timely response is critical. Any delay 
complicates short-, medium-, and long-term recovery efforts. Sadly, 
many of the lessons that we have learned have gone without an 
appropriate response. For example, the Washington Post reported on June 
4, 2003, that the United States remains highly vulnerable to a chemical 
terrorist attack, in large part because the Department of Health and 
Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency still have not 
decided which agency would spearhead chemical testing. Clearly now is 
the time to learn from our past and prepare for the future. The 
Community Protection and Response Act does just that.
  In response to the attacks of September 11th, Congress took a series 
of actions to bring relief to affected areas. These legislative actions 
along with existing statutes, including the Robert T. Stafford Relief 
and Emergency Act and the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, formed the 
framework for the federal government's response. The magnitude of the 
attacks and the need for Congress to take action before certain relief 
could be delivered added to the challenge of the recovery efforts and 
exposed critical weaknesses in federal authority to respond.
  The Community Protection and Response Act would amend the Stafford 
Act along with other statutes and would give the President a series of 
policy options to chose from following a homeland security event. A 
homeland security event is defined as an event that poses a significant 
risk to the security of people and property and is in such a magnitude 
that effective response is beyond the scope and capability of the 
affected state and local government. Many of these options are based on 
congressional action following September 11th or other policy 
suggestions in reports by the Congressional Research Service, the 
General Accounting Office and the New York branch of the Federal 
Reserve. Specifically, in the event of homeland security event, the 
President can provide grants for lost tax revenue, aid to school 
systems, and assistance to medical facilities and utility companies. 
The bill also establishes guidelines to ensure the public health of 
area residents and disaster workers.
  This legislation was introduced in the 107th Congress (H.R. 5164) and 
was offered as an amendment to the Bill that created the Department of 
Homeland Security. While the Committee on Government Reform passed the 
amendment by an unanimous vote, it was stripped out before floor 
consideration.

                          ____________________