SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS SAYS GAPS IN HOMELAND SECURITY NEED TO BE IDENTIFIED,PRIORITIZED, AND FILLED

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The local role in homeland security was the focus of a Senate Governmental Affairs Committee hearing today, where committee member Senator Susan Collins heard testimony on the hardships faced by state and local authorities in providing adequate security post September 11. Among those testifying before the committee were Maine Commissioner of the Departments of Defense, Veterans, and Emergency Management, General Joseph E. Tinkham. General Tinkham also serves as the Adjutant General of the Maine Army and Air National Guard. General Tinkham was invited by Senator Collins to testify at today''s hearing.

The purpose of the hearing was to examine the local role in homeland security and to learn about the efforts of state and local officials to prepare for and respond to acts of terrorism. "Critical to the homeland defense of our nation as a whole is the security of the individual states – and securing a state presents significant financial and logistical challenges," said Senator Collins.

In illustrating the challenges, Senator Collins noted that the state of Maine has more than 3,000 miles of Atlantic coastline and the longest international border with Canada in the continental United States. Maine has more than 250 airstrips, several military bases and two major shipyards. It also has a deactivated nuclear power plant with spent fuel rods on site and the second largest petroleum tank farm on the east coast that lies at the heart of the state''s largest population center.

"To meet these challenges and those facing other states, we must improve coordination between federal, state, and local governments, as well as the private sector," the Senator said. "We must avoid wasteful duplication. We must have realistic plans and effective training and exercises. We must also ensure that appropriate information about the presence of terrorists and potential threats is shared by federal law enforcement agencies with their state and local counterparts."

General Tinkham, who leads a joint National Guard-Maine State Police security team in Maine, testified that immediately following September 11, he developed a list of 25 potential targets in Maine upon which an attack could result in large loss of life or environmental catastrophe. His team then visited each site to assess the security risks. "We found that security measures, while probably sufficient for any perceived threat, as we understood it, on the 10th of September, were not adequate on September 12th."

Senator Collins stated the importance of allowing Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge the opportunity to carefully assess security needs and priorities. "After that, I expect that the President will propose billions of dollars for homeland security in his next budget, which we expect to be released in early February. We have a lot of work to do – together."