Gov. Blagojevich Urges President Bush to Maintain Homeland Security Funding to States

Cuts in Federal Homeland Security Grants Could Endanger Illinois' Effort to Prevent and Respond to Acts of Terrorism, Other Disasters

[December 18, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich sent a letter Monday to President Bush urging him to reconsider potential plans to drastically reduce homeland security funding to states and urban areas. Illinois received more than $86 million in fiscal 2007, used to ensure the safety of people in Illinois through a variety of programs, including the development of a nationally recognized plan to prepare for and combat terrorism.

The federal Office of Management and Budget has proposed cutting homeland security funding by more than 60 percent and totally eliminating many of the grant programs authorized by the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act, which was enacted on Aug. 3.

"In Illinois, our homeland security program is recognized as a national leader and serves as a model for other states. We have effectively used homeland security funding to build a network of special response teams, the nation's most robust mutual aid system and several prevention programs," Blagojevich wrote. "Federal funds not only make these programs a reality, they also allow us to protect the infrastructure and citizens of Illinois from harm. Continued and ample funding is critical to maintaining and improving Illinois' homeland security programs, allowing state government to dedicate enough resources to help anticipate, confront and respond to new threats."

For fiscal 2007, Illinois received $86.2 million in federal homeland security funding, including $47.3 million in Urban Area Security Initiative funding awarded to the Chicago and Cook County urban area. Since fiscal 1999, Illinois and the Chicago-Cook County area have received more than $500 million in federal homeland security funds.

"Through the Illinois Terrorism Task Force, Illinois has developed and implemented a strategic plan for utilizing the federal homeland security funds that is recognized as a model for other states," said Andrew Velasquez III, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. "If these drastic funding cuts are enacted, we not only will struggle to maintain the many response and prevention programs we've developed, but will be unable to complete other critical initiatives, such as interoperable communications for first responders and citizen preparedness and volunteer programs."

Illinois has spent nearly $70 million in federal homeland security funds to develop, equip and train several special response teams located throughout the state, including:

• Three State Weapons of Mass Destruction Teams are located within the state to cover the northern, central and southern sections of Illinois. These forces are trained and equipped to respond during crisis incidents brought on by acts of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and related criminal activities. In 2004, the Illinois teams received the first-ever Mitretek Award for Innovations in Homeland Security from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and Mitretek Corp.

• Regional Weapons of Mass Destruction Teams -- Nine local law enforcement teams are trained and equipped to operate as a tactical response team in a contaminated environment.

• Urban Search and Rescue Team -- A fire service team is trained and equipped to locate, rescue and provide initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces. Located in the Chicago area, this team can respond to incidents anywhere in Illinois.

• Technical Rescue Teams -- 39 fire service teams are trained and equipped to perform various levels of confined-space and structural collapse operations and extrication.

• Level-A Hazmat Teams -- 42 fire services teams throughout the state are trained and equipped to work in a "hot zone" to perform offensive actions in response to an incident involving hazardous materials or weapons of mass destruction.

• Illinois Medical Emergency Response Team -- 12 volunteer medical teams are trained and equipped to respond to and assist with emergency medical treatment at mass casualty incidents. More than 900 doctors, nurses and emergency medical technicians volunteer for this group.

Other state terrorism prevention and response initiatives supported by federal funding are the Statewide Terrorism Intelligence Center, distribution of personal protective equipment to more than 70,000 first responders, distribution of interoperable communications equipment to response agencies throughout the state, and training and exercises for state and local responders.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]