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
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[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.
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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."
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2007/Dec/18/images/ads/current/roger%20webster%20const%20bch%20050207.png)
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:
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2007/Dec/18/images/ads/current/mary-todd-totally-christmas-sda-121007.png)
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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.
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![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2007/Nov/14/images/ads/current/lincoln-chrysler-lda-111307.png)
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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.
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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.
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Technical Rescue
Teams -- 39 fire service teams are trained and equipped to
perform various levels of confined-space and structural collapse
operations and extrication.
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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.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2007/Dec/18/images/ads/current/brickey%20printing%20041507.png)
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]
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2007/Nov/10/images/ads/current/friendship-manor-lda-100307.jpg) |