State of New Jersey
Office of the Governor
JAMES E. MCGREEVEY
Governor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Micah Rasmussen............................................................DATE:
May 27, 2004
PHONE: 609-777-2600
Governor McGreevey
Addresses Homeland Security Issues
Asks Bush Administration
to Finally Address Funding Flaws;
NJ Congressional Delegation for Assistance in Securing More Over-Time
Funding
(TRENTON) - In light of Attorney General John Ashcroft's and FBI Director
Robert Mueller's announcement advising local and State law enforcement
to heighten their vigilance, Governor James E. McGreevey today announced
that he will aggressively continue to work with the New Jersey Congressional
Delegation, State officials, law enforcement, first responders, and municipal
leaders on the State's efforts to streamline homeland security issues.
"I will continue to work to ensure New Jersey's infrastructure, transportation
network, schools and communities remain safe and secure," said Governor
McGreevey. "We are working together like never before -- by pooling
our resources and taking every action possible to prevent terrorist attack."
The Governor has reached out to every level of government to raise awareness
of the State's homeland security funding issues. The Bush Administration's
budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2005 cuts funding from the Office of Domestic
Preparedness' First Responder Program by 18 percent - dropping New Jersey's
share from the originally expected $55.4 million, to $44 million.
To date the U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded New
Jersey $336 million in much needed funding for the State's priority areas.
Over $1 billion dollars in domestic security needs were identified by
New Jersey. Governor McGreevey has sent numerous letters asking the Bush
Administration to restructure the fatally flawed per capita funding formula
and the process by which over-time and first responder purchase reimbursements
are distributed.
The current federal per capita funding formula is still distributing more
money per capita to Wyoming ($9.78) than it is to the most densely populated
state in the nation -- New Jersey is only receiving a $1.69 per capita.
The federal formula does not take into consideration the unmatched array
of critical transportation, utility, petrochemical and pharmaceutical
infrastructure the State must protect. The Governor is requesting these
modifications so the vast metropolitan region, its citizens, and economy
are protected.
Governor McGreevey asked DHS to look into streamlining the first responder
purchase procedures and guidelines dictating over-time reimbursement during
heightened levels of alert. Currently, the federal reimbursement process
is plagued with inefficiencies that delay the monetary turn-around time
months. Governor McGreevey has requested that the Bush Administration
take steps to address the delays so that, in the event of an attack, the
State, first responders, and municipalities can quickly have access to
desperately needed equipment. The current system delays first responders
time and time again from obtaining the target hardening materials they
need. However to date the Bush Administration had not taken action to
address the issue.
"In the event of an attack, we must be able to deliver the tools
to the front line quickly," said McGreevey. We must resolve these
problems now, so that we ease the burdens first responders already bear."
In addition, Governor McGreevey has also requested that Attorney General
Harvey and Treasurer McCormac work with the State's Purchase Bureau and
various local agencies to facilitate the first responder procurement process.
Attorney General Harvey and Treasurer McCormac will recommend steps to
ensure that New Jersey is expediting the municipal reimbursement process
as effectively as possible. This system will also promote local awareness
of all procurement options.
Governor McGreevey will continue to question the Bush Administration about
homeland security funding issues and their cuts to vital security programs.
" I will also continue to urge our Congressional delegation to vote
against this and all measures that shortchange New Jersey's residents,"
said McGreevey.
Since taking Office, Governor McGreevey's administration has provided
nearly $248 million in State funds for homeland security. The amount has
increased each year. In his proposed fiscal year 2005 budget, the Governor
included $94 million in homeland security funding - including a $33 million
cell tower assessment. That assessment would help pay for the purchase
of about 400 new State Police patrol cars; salary and training costs for
new State Troopers; and security details at New Jersey's nuclear power
plants.
New Jersey's homeland security accomplishments, to date, include the development
of secure Internet connections that let local and State agencies share
security bulletins; the training of hundreds of officers in counter-terrorism
intelligence and awareness; the requirement that all local police recruits
will be trained in "weapons of mass destruction" emergency response;
and the creation of a Pharmaceutical Stockpile Access and Distribution
Plan with over 400 sites identified for mass distribution of medicines
or vaccinations.
Citizens are encouraged to contact the New Jersey Office of Counter-Terrorism
at 1-866-4-SAFE-NJ to report any unusual or suspicious activity.
Homeland Security and Preparedness tips can be found online by going to
the State's Homeland Security Web site, www.NJHomelandSecurity.com
or the State Police website at www.njsp.org
and clicking on the Office of Emergency Management icon.
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Photos and audio and video clips from Governor McGreevey's press conferences
are available
in the Office of the Governor section on the State of New Jersey web page,
http://www.nj.gov.