SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS RELEASES STATEMENT ON GW’S REPORT ON DHS PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE REGIONALIZATION

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Susan Collins, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, released the following statement on the George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI) report, “DHS Preparedness and Response Regionalization,” issued yesterday:   "The GW report echoes my Committee's recommendations on how to restructure our federal emergency response system.  The federal government cannot effectively respond to disasters if it relies too heavily on officials sitting in command centers in Washington, D.C. Regional offices must be strengthened and given the responsibility and authority to play key roles.   "I have authored legislation with Senator Joe Lieberman that would establish regional 'strike teams' allowing officials from different agencies to train and work together.  The scene of a disaster is not the time to be exchanging business cards.  All officials that could be called to assist in a catastrophe must know how to work with one another at the state and local levels long before one strikes.  I believe the GW report underscores the urgent need for enactment of this initiative."