State officials seek funds for emergency communications
Emergency response officials say DHS is not providing enough support to its SAFECOM program.
State emergency response officials on Wednesday urged lawmakers to increase funding and staffing levels at the Homeland Security Department's program for ensuring interoperability in public safety communications.
The officials said the department is not providing enough support to its SAFECOM Program, which was created to make sure state and local public-safety personnel can communicate across jurisdictions.
"Talk is cheap and if this isn't funded ... the next disaster will come and everybody will be throwing up their hands and pointing," Robert Drake, mayor of Beaverton, Ore., told the House Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness, Science and Technology Subcommittee during a hearing. Drake testified on behalf of the National League of Cities.
"Action is necessary now because no one knows when or where the next natural or man-made crisis may strike that demands a rapid response and seamless communications among and between first responders and others engaged in public safety," Drake said.
SAFECOM is part of the DHS Office of Interoperability and Compatibility. The department is requesting about $30 million for the office in fiscal 2007, an increase of about $3.5 million from 2006 funding.
Steve Proctor, executive director of the Utah Communications Agency Network, said SAFECOM needs to have a larger staff. He testified on behalf of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials.
"Take a leadership role and support the SAFECOM Program," Proctor told the subcommittee. "With appropriate resources, SAFECOM can and should staff up with state and local experienced personnel who have a background in communications to assist in the process."
Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash., said his panel will be drafting legislation in the coming months to help state and local governments improve communications interoperability. He said the hearing was one of several the subcommittee is holding to gather input from experts.
State officials who testified Wednesday also urged lawmakers to follow through with promises to give public-safety personnel more communications spectrums.
Drake added that Congress also should encourage efforts to improve planning and coordination on a regional level.
"While direct funding for local projects helps day-to-day, mission-critical capabilities for any given agency, it does not always guarantee a benefit or ensure coordination when major incidents like large weather disasters or an earthquake involving multiple jurisdictions and disciplines strike," he said.