WASHINGTON – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., Monday issued the following statement in response to the 9/11 Public Discourse Project’s final report. Lieberman and Committee Chairman Susan Collins, R-Me., co-authored the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act of 2004 to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.
“Tom Kean and Lee Hamilton have served their country well by their continuing dedication to closing America’s homeland security gaps. I admire their work and join them in their efforts. “One of my chief legislative goals is to equip first responders with the technology that will permit them to speak across the radio spectrum during an emergency. Senator Collins and I have introduced legislation to hasten first responder interoperability and I am a cosponsor of Senator McCain’s bill to increase radio spectrum for first responders. “I believe that homeland security grants must be distributed primarily based on risk which is why I have introduced legislation with Senator Collins that disburses 80 percent of its funding based on risk factors. Equally as important, our legislation calls for an increase in first responder money to turn around a two-year trend of cutting these essential funds. Finally, I am deeply disappointed the Administration has not adequately funded or implemented a number of programs passed as part of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act, including the privacy and civil liberties board, the information sharing environment, and explosives detection and cargo screening equipment at airports.”