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Homeland Security Lags in U.S.
By Barbara Barrett, McClatchy Newspapers
January 31, 2007
With the thunk of a small
wooden mallet, U.S. Rep. David Price,
D-N.C., called to order Tuesday the first
hearing since he took charge of the House
subcommittee responsible for how homeland
security dollars are spent.
During hours
of testimony, experts said that five years
after 9-11, the United States remains woefully
disorganized in protecting its homeland.
Dollars have been wasted for frivolous
purchases, they said. Corporations haven't
stepped up to their responsibilities. The
individuals most Americans would see during a
catastrophe - their local firefighters and
public health officials - don't have basic
equipment to talk with one another.
And
so far, homeland security standards have been
more of an option than a federal
requirement.
"There's some signs of
progress but signs of falling short as well,"
said Price, a Chapel Hill Democrat. "We need
much more integrated efforts with local and
state governments and private industry. There
should be not just expectations but
standards."
To get those standards,
panelists said, Congress should step up its
oversight of the Department of Homeland
Security.
"Congress needs to do its
job," said Tim Roemer, a 9-11 Commission member
and former congressman. "If you protect
everywhere, you are weak everywhere. We have to
set priorities."
Tuesday's hearing was
the first for the Appropriations subcommittee
on Homeland Security. In coming months, Price
expects to hold nearly two dozen hearings to
help shape a budget for the department that
tops $30 billion.
"The department's mode
of operations is far too often reactive instead
of proactive," Price said.
Former Sen.
Gary Hart, co-chairman of the U.S. Commission
on National Security, said a national strategy
is still needed for homeland
security.
But there also were warnings
about trying to overprotect the country. James
Carafano of the Heritage Foundation said
terrorists are flexible, and that protected
trains would simply lead them to
schoolyards.
Carafano said the panel
should spend its money on offense, rather than
defense.
There were plenty of other
recommendations for Congress. Among
them:
- Make the National Guard responsible for homeland security.
- Pay more attention to the border with Canada and U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico.
- Allow local and state officials to rotate into jobs at federal agencies.