Washington – In an effort to strengthen homeland security, President Bush announced his Fiscal Year 03 budget proposal in a press release on January 24th, 2002.  The comprehensive budget proposal will strengthen national security by enhancing first responder programs, increasing border security, developing bioterrorism counter measures, improving intelligence sharing between government organizations, improving transportation security and supporting national defense programs. 
The overall responsibility for domestic security falls under the Office of Homeland Security (OHS).  President Bush by Executive Order created OHS in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11th.  Under the Executive Order, the functions of the Office shall be to “coordinate the executive branch's efforts to detect, prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks within the United States”.  Concerning recovery efforts, the OHS is responsible for coordinating efforts to respond to and promote recovery from terrorist threats or attacks within the United States. In performing this function, the Office shall work with Federal, State, and local agencies, and private entities, as appropriate. 
The proposed budget has a price tag of $37.7 billion, a significant increase from last year’s budget of $19.5 billion.  Part of the funding will go towards enhancing the capabilities of first responders.  First responders are the police, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians who are first on the scene of disasters.  Currently the response capabilities of first responders vary throughout the country, depending on funding, population, and location. 

For instance, some areas that are disaster prone have well funded, well trained emergency personnel to respond to disasters.  However, many areas rely on volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians to provide disaster services; these responders may not have the funding for training and equipment, and their capabilities to respond to disasters are limited.  The goal of the increased funding would be to increase the level of disaster responsiveness throughout the first responder communities. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will administer the Federal funding.  FEMA will be responsible for developing a distribution process that will make it easy for first responders to receive funding.  The funding is a shot in the arm for the first response community; many communities rely on firehouse dinners, not Federal aid, to generate funds for equipment and training. 

Traditionally, Federal funds for first responders have been virtually non-existent.  President Bush’s budget proposal would provide $3.5 billion in Fiscal Year 03.  The funds would be used for equipment, training, and disaster planning.  One of the equipment purchases would be for improved communication devices; the multiple communications systems used by first responders has traditionally been an impediment at disaster sites.  The Federal funding will help enable a communications system and equipment that will allow multiple response agencies to communicate during disasters.  The funding will also be used to purchase protective gear, and chemical/biological detection systems. 

Approximately $1.1 billion will be used to train first responders in disaster response training, especially with dealing with chemical or biological disasters.  Funding will be used to create a national training exercise, which will give responders the chance to test the capabilities of their disaster response plans and their equipment.  Training will also improve interagency coordination and communications, both vital elements of disaster response. 

Bipartisan support for the President’s proposal is so far strong, as indicated by the Democratic response to President Bush’s State of the Union Address, delivered by 
House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt, on January 29, 2002 following the President’s State of the Union Address.  Congressman Gephardt stated during his speech, “Since that day, there has been no daylight between us in this war on terrorism. We have met almost every single week and built a bipartisan consensus that is helping America win this war”.  If the funding proposal goes through without much opposition or changes, first responders will finally get the funding needed to improve disaster response and take it to a new level.