"Listening to the ideas and needs of our community officials and our first responders will be the most effective way of developing legislation to make sure our homeland security dollars go as far as possible," said Senator Collins.
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, Senator Collins oversees the new Department of Homeland Security. Now that the Department is up and running, Collins says she will turn her attention to the needs of state and local first responders, who have widely complained about the complicated and constrictive requirements for receiving federal funds.
"Maine's first responders and local governments have told me their needs range from communications equipment to personnel to more effective training. Mainers don't just have needs; they also have tremendously creative and effective ideas that can be channeled into the new coordinated, community-based homeland security strategy."
Chief Chitwood added, "The [federal government] writing a check without any increased coordination of information or manpower makes very little sense. The point is, the federal government doesn't need to ...spend more tax dollars if we work together in a coordinated fashion. Force these agencies to be more proactive in partnering with us at the local level."