NACo requests security help at a local level
NACo requests security help at a local level
The president of the National Association of Counties last week outlined a call to action for homeland security.
Javier Gonzales said the federal government should do six things:
- Establish a homeland security tax credit
- Rebuild the public health system
- Approve a $3 billion Homeland Security Block Grant Act
- Give Homeland Security director Tom Ridge power to direct resources
- Set up a special fund for state and local governments
- Strengthen communications among public safety departments.
Gonzales said state and local health departments need far more to upgrade computers and communications than the $865 million Congress has appropriated.
Gonzales urged passage of HR 3397, the Homeland Emergency Response Operations, or HERO, Act, to free up the 700-MHz radio band for first responders who often must work across county and department lines.
About the Author
Trudy Walsh is a senior writer for GCN.