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Preparedness: Homeland Security
With Susan Neely
Special Assistant to the President, Director of Communications, Office of Homeland Security
Thursday, July 18, 2002; 1 p.m. EDT
President Bush announced his national strategy for homeland security on Tuesday, designed to provide direction to the existing patchwork of government agencies and departments that participate in the homeland security mission. Its three main goals: preventing terrorist attacks in the U.S.; reducing the U.S.'s vulnerability to terrorism; and minimizing the damage of and recovering from attacks that occur. The debate now turns to carrying out the plan, and how Tom Ridge, the head of the agency, will lead the efforts.
Susan Neely, special assistant to the president and director of communications for the Office of Homeland Security, was online Thursday, July 18, at 1 p.m. EDT, to discuss to discuss how the strategy will be implemented, and how the new department will work.
Neely is a former senior vice president for communications at the Association of American Medical Colleges, and served as senior vice president of the Health Insurance Association of America, a trade association of commercial health insurance companies, made famous for the creation of the "Harry and Louise" television commercials and campaign. Her career in public relations in politics includes positions with Gov. Terry Branstad (R-Iowa) and Reps. Sid Morrison (R-Wash.) and Jim Leach (R-Iowa).
The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Washington, D.C.:
What is the difference between the Office for Homeland Security and the Office for Domestic Preparedness?
Susan Neely: The Office for Homeland Security is part of the Executive Office of the President. Governor Ridge in his capacity as Assistant to the President is the head of the Office. The responsibilities of the Office of Homeland Security are to coordinate among the various federal departments and agenices that share responsibility for protecting the homeland. The Office of Domestic Preparedness, part of the Department of Justice, is one of these entities.
Silver Spring, Md.:
How have media relations been incorporated into the new Homeland Security efforts?
Susan Neely:
Communicating to the important part of our strategy to secure the homeland. The media is a key vehicle to reach the public with information and progress reports.
Fairfax, Va.:
The National Strategy for Homeland Security document, in the section Foundations/Law, advocates amending the U.S. Code to "reinvigorate the president's authority to reorganize the executive branch." Two questions: Can you shed light on this? And -- given this administration's penchant for operating without transparency, why should we give this president this authority?
Susan Neely: Part of the President's proposal to create a Department of Homeland Security includes a provision that allows the new Secretary some flexibility to respond to the changing threat. This provision includes the ability to shift personnel to areas where there is greater need. For example, if we are concerned about a particular threat to our ports, the Secretary would have the ability to move additional personnel to increase security on the frontline. In addition, it provides some limited budget authority to move resources within the department again to respond to the changing threat. This is all done with the ability for congressional oversight of any changes made by the Secretary.
Orono, Maine:
Can you explain the rationale for creating a network of citizen informants? I must say, it's quite disturbing that the postal service has been asked to participate. Is anyone in the Bush administration familiar with world history?
If so, maybe they can brief the president on the Gestapo and its tactics. It relied heavily on the type of informant network the president wants to create. What assurances can you give the American people that this isn't the first step to a police state?
Susan Neely: Operation TIPS is a program that is still being developed by the Department of Justice. The goal of the program is to build on successful existing programs such as Highway Watch, River Watch and Coast Watch to give workers an avenue to report unusual activity. It is a program that the truckers' association and others have called for because their employees want to help. As Governor Ridge has said, "We just want workers to be vigilant, not vigilantes." An excellent example, is the case of Richard Reid, the so-called shoe bomber. Thankfully the flight attendant and other passengers were vigilant or the outcome could have been tragic.
Harrisburg, Pa.:
A study published by the Brookings Institution states the Homeland Security office is attempting to coordinate too many agencies. What is your response?
Susan Neely: We were pleased that the Brookings Institute's report supported the idea of a new Department of Homeland Security. Brookings correctly makes the case that consolidating federal agencies is a huge challenge. However, their recommendation to consolidate all agencies, but leave out FEMA doesn't make sense. FEMA is the premier response unit for the United States for both natural disasters and terrorist attacks. In fact, the National Emergency Management Association, the International Association of Emergency Managers, the Fraternal Order of Police, nine fire associations all have written Congress in support of FEMA's inclusion in the new department.
McLean, Va.:
Susan, in President Bush's strategy, it was mentioned that classified information would be shared between the national level and state and local. If the use of a secure Internet is required, would the National Security Agency dictate the standards for which the filtering of this data would occur or would each agency put forth whatever they decide is "need to know." Also, will there be a push toward more mobile communication infrastructure "such as FEMA's Mobile Emergency Response System" to quickly repsond to national disasters? Interoperability between these systems and whatever the state and local first responders have, seems to me to be a critical first step in establishing a timely and credible response.
Susan Neely:
Information sharing between local, state and federal entities is a cornerstone of the national strategy. In fact, since the inception of the Office of Homeland Security on October 8, 2001, we have been working aggressively with the relevant federal agencies and our state and local partners to improve the information flow. While we still have a ways to go, I believe that many Governors and Mayors would confirm that information sharing is sronger.
With respect to interoperability, we learned painfully on September 11 that our emergency management communications system is ineffective. Firemen couldn't talk to police officers and neither could talk to emergency medical personnel. Interoperabile communications is a key goal of the new national strategy and one of the President's policy and budget priorities for FY03. The President has recommended $3.5 billion for first responders. A key use for these funds would be to ensure an interoperable communications system.
Rockville, Md.:
How can a current Federal Employee with long experience and no fear of loss of civil service protections get into the new agency?
As I near the end of a long career, planning to stay only a few years more, I would love to work on this great effort. I have no motivation to entrench myself, nor would others of us near the end of our careers. We just might be especially useful, due to lack of personal interest but have no idea how to get involved.
Susan Neely:
What a great patriot you are! Plans for a smooth transition are already underway. As soon as Congress gives the President a bill, a formal transition will begin. At that point, there will be extensive information on how to become part of the new team. And, for you or other civil servants that may be interested, please know that you would transfer to the new department with your benefits and current civil service status in tact.
Thanks for your current service to the country.
Owings Mills, Md.:
When does the armed forces plan to remove all U.S. soldiers from Saudi Arabia?
Does the INS stop new immigrants from entering the U.S.? How about those from the Middle East or the African countries that have their official religion as Muslim?
Do U.S. officials search databases for illegal immmigrants with false social security numbers/names?
Susan Neely: We are a country of immigrants, and it is core to the principles on which this country was founded that we remain open and welcoming. However, September 11 proved that there are some people that will abuse and exploit our openness. The challenge of securing the homeland is to ensure that our borders to the legitimate flow of people and commerce, but that we have systems in place that are equipped to identify those who would do us harm.
Technology provides an important tool in achieving this goal. We are piloting biometric devices (e.g. thumbprint scanners) at locations at the northern border that match people to their entry documents.
Washington, D.C.:
How does the Department of Homeland Security and the DOJ forsee using citizen volunteers in its homeland security efforts? What, exactly, will the Citizen Corps Councils do? How does the Citizen Corps initiative differ from general Neighborhood Watch?
Susan Neely: In his State of the Union address, President Bush called on Americans to overcome evil with acts of good. He announced the creation of USA Freedom Corps, a nationwide effort to increase volunteer involvement in this country and abroad. Citizen Corps is a part of this national effort. To date, more than 100 communities and 38,000 individuals from all 50 states have signed up to participate. This morning Governor Ridge, Director of USA Freedom Corps John Bridgeland and the CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service announced some special homeland security grants to help communities build up their own Citizen Corps programs. Mayor Williams was on hand to accept close to $1 million in grants for the District of Columbia.
If you have a personal interest in Citizen Corps programs, log on to www.citizencorps.gov.
Washington, D.C.:
I currently work in the USDOJ's Office for Domestic Preparedness, which was mentioned earlier. I have heard I will be losing my job to people over at FEMA, is this true?
Susan Neely: No. The President's proposal is to move the program in tact -- people and money -- to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This allows to unify our nation's preparedness efforts to make a stronger program. The proposal for the new Department also contains this proposal, along with other programs from HHS and DOE.
Susan Neely: Thanks for your interest in the national strategy for homeland security and the President's policy recommendations to help protect America. If you would like more information, visit the White House website: www.homelandsecurity.gov
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