PRINTER'S NO. 2162
No. 366 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY D. WHITE, OCTOBER 16, 2006
REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
OCTOBER 16, 2006
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2 conduct a review of homeland security funding and
3 preparedness in this Commonwealth.
4 WHEREAS, Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,
5 on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the Federal
6 Government has initiated a concerted effort to help states and
7 localities improve the safety and security of citizens; and
8 WHEREAS, Federal homeland security grants are a primary, but
9 not the sole, method of assistance to states and localities; and
10 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has received more than $615 million in
11 Federal funding related to homeland security since September 11,
12 2001; and
13 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency serves
14 as the point of contact with the United States Department of
15 Homeland Security and is charged with coordinating policy
16 development and information exchange among Federal, State and
17 local branches of government; and
18 WHEREAS, Other Commonwealth agencies, including the
1 Department of Health, receive additional Federal funding for
2 specifically enumerated purposes related to homeland security;
3 and
4 WHEREAS, Given the amount of money received by Pennsylvania
5 and localities in this Commonwealth for homeland security
6 efforts, a review should determine the extent and sufficiency of
7 homeland security funding as well as the adequacy of the
8 coordination and direction of Federal grants going to State and
9 local agencies; therefore be it
10 RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Legislative Budget and
11 Finance Committee to conduct a review of homeland security
12 funding and preparedness in this Commonwealth in order to
13 determine:
14 (1) How much Federal funding the Commonwealth has
15 received for purposes of homeland security and how much
16 funding Commonwealth localities have received for such
17 purposes.
18 (2) Which State and local agencies are receiving Federal
19 funds for homeland security.
20 (3) Whether Federal funding is being awarded to State
21 and local agencies in accordance with their critical needs.
22 (4) What obstacles State and local agencies confront
23 when attempting to obtain Federal funding for homeland
24 security.
25 (5) Whether State agencies have adequate resources to
26 effectively direct the coordination of homeland security
27 efforts.
28 (6) Whether State agencies have sufficient authority to
29 direct the coordination of homeland security efforts.
30 (7) What oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure
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1 that homeland security funds are being used for their
2 intended purposes;
3 and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That the review conducted by the Legislative Budget
5 and Finance Committee be an expansive review which broadly
6 interprets homeland security to include, but not be limited to,
7 preparedness for responding to threats or acts of terrorism as
8 well as public health emergency preparedness and response
9 capability and which broadly interprets localities to include,
10 but not be limited to, regional counterterrorism task forces,
11 counties, municipalities, school districts, hospitals and
12 emergency responders; and be it further
13 RESOLVED, That the review conducted by the Legislative Budget
14 and Finance Committee apply to all relevant Federal funding and
15 all relevant State agencies without being limited to a review of
16 funds received from the United States Department of Homeland
17 Security and the United States Department of Health and Human
18 Services and to a review of the Pennsylvania Emergency
19 Management Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Health; and
20 be it further
21 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
22 report its findings and recommendations to the Senate no later
23 than June 1, 2007.
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