Speaking for Nevada - October 2004

Homeland Security in Nevada

What’s Being Done?

by Jim Gibbons

What efforts have been made in Congress to ensure that Nevada, and specifically, Southern Nevada, is protected from terrorist attacks?

September 11, 2001, changed our nation forever. We will never forget those lost in the heinous terrorist attacks, and our nation will never look at its security the same. Over the past three years, historic changes have been made in our federal government to coordinate our homeland security efforts so the agencies responsible for protecting the American people communicate effectively. As an architect of the legislation creating the Homeland Security Department, I called for the realignment of over 100 different federal agencies to break down institutional barriers and establish new lines of communication to strengthen our homeland security. Additionally, we are working to provide our state and local authorities with the capabilities to strengthen security across Nevada, including in the tourist Mecca and growing metropolis of Las Vegas.

Las Vegas in particular faces unique challenges since it not only has to protect a constantly growing community, but it also has to protect thousands of visitors daily. Located near the Colorado River and Hoover Dam – critical resources for both electricity and water supplies – Southern Nevada also has the responsibility to ensure the safety of vital infrastructure. I am pleased the federal government has become a partner to our state and local communities in these security efforts.

First and foremost, millions of dollars in federal funding has been allocated to Nevada, and to Las Vegas specifically, to assist in security initiatives. For example, Urban Area Security funds provided Las Vegas with over $10 million at the end of last year, and the state has received tens of millions of dollars for first responders, emergency preparedness, and security at critical infrastructure, including dams and airports. Federal funding has also gone to communities across Nevada to supplement their budgets and boost their first-responder and security capabilities.

Specialized teams of first responders trained to handle biomedical crises are also critical. Nevada was one of 13 states that did not have a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Civil Support Team to provide assistance to front-line emergency workers in the event of a terrorist attack using weapons of mass destruction. In May 2003, I introduced legislation to require the implementation of additional WMD Civil Support Teams to ensure all states, including Nevada, are better prepared to respond to an attack. The entire Nevada delegation joined me in urging the Department of Defense (DoD) to immediately designate a Civil Support Team for Nevada. Earlier this year, the DoD heeded our call and officially designated a new team to Nevada. This team will provide Nevada with the necessary counterterrorism and attack response efforts to meet 21st Century threats.

In addition to a Civil Support Team, Nevada has a dedicated National Guard that it often calls upon for security initiatives. The National Guard operates at the request of a state’s governor, but the Guard is being used more and more for homeland security projects, such as providing airport security and guarding bridges, dams and other critical infrastructure. I authored legislative provisions, which the House of Representatives passed, to allow the Secretary of Defense to provide funding so a governor can employ the National Guard to conduct homeland security activities. These provisions allow for closer state and federal cooperation and make the National Guard more flexible and responsive.

Nevada deserves the same level of protection as other states and communities. An icon of American culture, Las Vegas protects millions of tourists and residents 24 hours a day. To meet this challenge, I support legislation to require that homeland security funding be prioritized based on risk-based criteria that include tourist populations in the calculations. Smaller towns and cities that are lower risk areas will not be abandoned – other funding will be available to them for first-responder and security efforts – but our nation’s higher-risk areas (such as New York City, Chicago and Las Vegas) will be assured adequate funding to protect the millions of people who live there or visit them.

Strengthening our homeland security means strengthening the partnership between federal, state and local officials and law enforcement agencies. We are making great progress, and thanks to the diligent efforts of our intelligence community, military and law enforcement, we have apprehended thousands of suspected terrorists and thwarted several terrorist plots. Yet, we cannot let our guard down. Just as our war against terror must continue, so too must our efforts to secure our homeland. Homeland security is a critical component of our national defense and one that we are strengthening everyday.