[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18267]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCTION OF THE COMMUNITY PROTECTION AND RESPONSE ACT

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 9, 2008

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the 
Community Protection and Response Act to eliminate confusion in 
responding to disasters following homeland security events.
  One of the major lessons learned in the aftermath of September 11th, 
2001 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.
  In response to the attacks of September 11th, for example, 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, 
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 choose 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 of such 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 a 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 bill is an important failsafe and preventative measure that will 
ensure America is prepared to respond to any homeland security event in 
the future.

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