GovExec.com Homeland Security Week - September 8, 2004
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September 8, 2004
* Senators introduce sweeping 9/11 legislation
* Bush pledges resources for war on terror, strengthening of domestic programs
* Ridge: Integration of people, technology helps secure nation
* Air marshals under review following inspector general's investigation
* Some in tech industry critical of Bush administration's cybersecurity efforts
* GAO: FBI's antiterrorism focus not harming traditional work
* Agencies urged to develop teleworker corps for emergency situations
* Customs and Border Protection canine nominated for top dog award
* Quote of the week
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1. Senators introduce sweeping 9/11 legislation
By Chris Strohm
A bipartisan group of Senators introduced sweeping legislation Tuesday to enact
recommendations made by the 9/11 commission, including the creation of a powerful
national intelligence director with budgetary and personnel authority over 15
intelligence agencies.
The 280-page omnibus bill encompasses all the commission's recommendations, with only
a couple of changes. For example, the bill would establish a National Intelligence
Authority outside of the White House, rather than within the executive office of the
president as the commission recommended.
"This is a dream that all of us had on the commission," said the panel's chairman,
Thomas Kean, a former Republican governor of New Jersey. "What haunted us was the
possibility that we'd make recommendations to make the American people safer and, like
other commissions, nobody would do anything about them."
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090704c1.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090704c1.htm
_____
2. Bush pledges resources for war on terror, strengthening of domestic programs
By Amelia Gruber
In his speech accepting the Republican nomination for reelection, President George W.
Bush sold himself to voters as a strong, consistent leader, steadfast in his support
for the war on terror and committed to the reform of outdated federal programs.
"I am running for president with a clear and positive plan to build a safer world,"
Bush said at the Republican National Convention in New York City. To see what shape
the plan will take, voters should look back on accomplishments over the past three
years, he said, noting that his administration has tripled homeland security spending
and trained 500,000 first responders.
Bush also pledged continued support for members of the military services working to
fight terrorism abroad, and took a dig at Democratic opponent John Kerry's vote
against $87 billion in supplemental spending for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. "My
opponent and his running mate voted against this money for bullets and fuel and
vehicles and body armor," he said.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090304a1.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090304a1.htm
_____
3. Ridge: Integration of people, technology helps secure nation
By Greta Wodele, National Journal's Technology Daily
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge on Tuesday touted the Bush administration's use
of technology to protect the homeland over the last three years, but the secretary was
careful not to strike a partisan chord amid the political background.
"Three years after the [Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks], I can tell you that
working in common effort for the common good is the way of homeland security," Ridge
said at a National Press Club luncheon. "And when I say homeland security, I'm not
speaking of a federal strategy - rather, the mission and mandate of a nation."
Ridge said there is "no doubt" the department can do more to bolster security but
added that the "successful integration of people and technology for a greater purpose
has had a genuine result."
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090704tdpm1.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090704tdpm1.htm
_____
4. Air marshals under review following inspector general's investigation
By Beth Dickey
The Federal Air Marshal Service is reviewing the backgrounds of thousands of secret
agents after the Homeland Security Department's inspector general exposed hundreds of
cases of misconduct.
"We're going to examine them to make sure they meet law enforcement thresholds," FAMS
spokesman Dave Adams told Government Executive last week. "If they do not meet these
thresholds, we will take appropriate action - - up to and including dismissal."
Officers who safeguard the skies from terrorists have lied on job applications, slept
on duty, worked under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and lost their weapons,
according to DHS Inspector General Clark Kent Ervin.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090104b1.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090104b1.htm
_____
5. Some in tech industry critical of Bush administration's cybersecurity efforts
By William New, National Journal's Technology Daily
The issue of cybersecurity has not reached a satisfactory level of prominence in the
Bush administration for some observers in the technology industry, and an elevation of
the issue before the November presidential election is not likely, sources say.
"It's likely that we'll have to wait until after the election for there to be any real
changes," said Tom Galvin, a vice president at information security firm VeriSign.
A provision to elevate the position of the Homeland Security Department's top
specialist on cybersecurity from a director to an assistant secretary is stuck in an
embattled House authorization bill. And an effort within the department in July to
lift the directorship to a deputy assistant secretary level went nowhere, according to
government and industry sources.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090304td1.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090304td1.htm
_____
Brought to you by Motorola
{ Link:
http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;10635807;5622871;i?http://www.motorola.com/missioncritical
}
{Image: Brought to you by Motorola}
Mission critical communications are vital lifelines for first responders.
Motorola is helping to connect government agencies and responders with:
True interoperability enabling agencies to communicate as one.
Critical networks that are always available.
Mission critical data for the power of pre-emptive intelligence.
Discover how Motorola can help responders keep communities safer.
{ Link:
http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;10635807;5622871;i?http://www.motorola.com/missioncritical
}
Click here to receive a copy of In the Event of: The Guide to Mission Critical
Communications
{ Link:
http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;10635807;5622871;i?http://www.motorola.com/missioncritical
}
www.motorola.com/missioncritical
_____
6. GAO: FBI's antiterrorism focus not harming traditional work
By Amelia Gruber
The FBI's post-Sept. 11 focus on combating terrorism has not necessarily detracted
from the federal government's efforts to investigate drug-related, white-collar and
violent crimes, according to a new Government Accountability Office study.
FBI officials transferred substantial numbers of field agents to counterterrorism,
counterintelligence and cybercrime work following the terrorist attacks, and attention
to traditional drug and criminal cases fell in the next two years, GAO auditors
reported. But outside agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, are
closing the gap, the analysis of enforcement statistics indicated.
Drug enforcement didn't make the top 10 list when FBI Director Robert Mueller outlined
his agency's new priorities in May 2002. White-collar crime came in seventh on the
list and violent crime ended up eighth, while counterterrorism, counterintelligence
and cybercrime filled the top three slots.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090104a1.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090104a1.htm
_____
7. Agencies urged to develop teleworker corps for emergency situations
By Daniel Pulliam
The Office of Personnel Management recently released updated emergency guides,
emphasizing the need for agencies to have plans for employees to work from home during
emergencies. OPM also released guides for the families of federal employees and
managers.
The udpated emergency preparedness guides from OPM stress the need for agencies to
have plans that allow "the business of government to continue during emergency
situations." The guides stress that telework is an effective method that would allow
employees not selected to go to the Designated Continuity of Operations facilities
during an emergency to continue their work.
Agencies are supposed to develop a cadre of teleworkers who will learn to work
off-site electronically and supervisors who can manage employees remotely. Eliminating
paper and automating reports whenever possible will help employees to experience
functioning in a virtual office.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090104dp1.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090104dp1.htm
_____
8. Customs and Border Protection canine nominated for top dog award
By Daniel Pulliam
The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection recently urged people to vote "Trouble,"
the top U.S. service dog in the Pedigree Paws to Recognize contest.
A member of the CBP elite Agriculture Inspection Beagle Brigade, Trouble is following
in the footsteps of last year's winner, the CBP narcotic detector Labrador retriever
Crazy Joe, assigned to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.
People could vote for Trouble, or one of the five other service dogs, at Pedigree Paws
to Recognize until last Monday.
Full story: { Link: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090204dp1.htm }
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090204dp1.htm
_____
9. Quote of the Week:
"In my opinion, there's no doubt that had all the facts been centralized ... 9/11
could have been prevented."
-- Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., citing the need for { Link:
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0904/090704c1.htm }
sweeping legislation to overall the U.S. intelligence community.
_____
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