[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 125 (Thursday, September 11, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S11421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. Pryor):
  S. 1612. A bill to establish a technology, equipment, and information 
transfer within the Department of Homeland Security; to the Committee 
on Governmental Affairs.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to reflect on the terrorist 
attacks of 2 years ago, and to remember those who lost their lives or 
their loved ones on that tragic day. We also pause to honor the heroes 
who came to the rescue that day: our firefighters, police officers, and 
emergency workers.
  Two years ago, a brilliant late-summer Tuesday morning turned without 
warning into a horror of fire, smoke and chaos. Just another workday 
suddenly became a day of unimaginable loss, courage and sacrifice. What 
happened in New York City, Washington and Pennsylvania 2 years ago 
ensured that September 11 would be forever a solemn anniversary we will 
observe with reverence and reflection. It is a date we will keep in our 
places of worship, in our streets and public parks, certainly in our 
hearts.
  This second anniversary also is an appropriate time for assessment. 
While the terrorist attacks told us much about the strength of our 
people, they also revealed many weaknesses--in planning, cohesiveness 
and cooperation--in our government. The question we in government must 
answer today is whether our planning is more comprehensive, 
preparedness more effective, and the interactions among the various 
agencies of government more cohesive and cooperative.
  Since September 11, 2001, the Federal Government has worked to forge 
a new relationship with State and local governments. During the past 2 
years, Congress has provided $11 billion to States and localities to 
help equip and train their police, fire, and emergency personnel. 
Federal experts have trained more than 450,000 State and local first 
responders and conducted nearly 450 training exercises throughout the 
country. These efforts have better equipped our communities and first 
responders to respond to a terrorist attack.
  But we must do more to help first responders become first 
preventers--to help them apprehend terrorists and thwart attacks before 
they happen. Our communities requires more than decontamination 
equipment to treat those affected by a dirty bomb--we need to give our 
law enforcement agencies innovative monitoring technologies to thwart 
terrorists before they strike.
  As the Portland Press Herald reported just last week, ``While [Maine] 
is better equipped to respond to a chemical strike or ``dirty'' 
radioactive bomb, little has been spent to prevent such an attack.'' 
The legislation I am introducing today is aimed squarely at prevention.
  The Homeland Security Act established a framework to research and 
develop new advanced counter-terrorism technologies. The Homeland 
Security Appropriations bill passed by the Senate just a few months ago 
will provide the millions needed to fund this effort. Many other 
agencies, both within and outside the Department of Homeland Security, 
are developing technologies that could be used to prevent future 
terrorist attacks.
  I am pleased to introduce legislation with my colleague from 
Arkansas, Senator Pryor, which would help the Department quickly 
identify and transfer cutting edge counter-terrorism technologies and 
equipment to the front lines. Under our legislation, the Director of 
the Office for Domestic Preparedness, working with State and local law 
enforcement officials, the Science and Technology Directorate, and 
other Federal agencies will identify counter-terrorism technologies 
with the potential to significantly assist the law enforcement 
community.
  Once these technologies have been identified, State and local law 
enforcement agencies can apply to receive these technologies and 
equipment directly from the Department of Homeland Security. For 
example, those law enforcement agencies protecting borders, cargo 
ports, and other freight transportation links will be able to secure 
advanced detection and monitoring equipment that may not be purchased 
using other Office for Domestic Preparedness funds. This program, then, 
will fill in the technology gaps between traditional homeland security 
assistance programs.
  This is not another open-ended grant program. Rather, the counter-
terrorism technologies and equipment themselves will be available from 
a catalog of items proven to work. Transferring the technology, instead 
of providing a monetary grant, will enable ODP to provide the 
appropriate training to law enforcement officials.
  Our legislation is modeled after a program that works--the successful 
Technology Transfer Program within the Counterdrug Technology 
Assessment Center. Since 1998, this program has provided nearly five 
thousand pieces of equipment to roughly twenty percent of the Nation's 
State and local law enforcement agencies. It has also operated 
efficiently: administrative costs run less than 10 percent of the total 
funding per year.
  I commend Secretary Ridge for his outstanding efforts on the 
monumental challenge of incorporating nearly two-dozen agencies into 
the new Department of Homeland Security. But just as it is our first 
responders who are on the front lines when terrorism strikes, it is our 
law enforcement community, our ``first preventers,'' who can best 
thwart terrorism before it occurs. We must build on Secretary Ridge's 
efforts by helping to ensure that our state and local law enforcement 
agencies have the equipment and training they need.
  I am pleased to have the support from police chiefs and sheriffs 
across America. In fact, the National Sheriffs' Association, the 
International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Major City 
Policy Chiefs have already voiced their support for this legislation.
  A few weeks ago, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 
released transcripts of the 911 tapes from that awful day, more than 
1,800 tragic pages that tell an inspiring story of everyday people 
responding as extraordinary heroes. We in government must not forget 
that story as we proceed with the difficult task we have undertaken, 
one that may never be finished but that must progress. Let every 
September 11, then, be both a day of remembrance and a day when we 
commit ourselves to better protect the citizens of this great Nation.




                          ____________________