Issue Position: Homeland Security

Issue Position

Issue Position: Homeland Security

The war in Iraq is at the center of our national discussion today, but we cannot allow it to distract us from the objectives the American people set out to achieve in the fall of 2001: destroying Al Qaeda and denying legitimacy to the ideas of jihadist extremism. The war in Iraq has diverted our attention and resources from the broader war against Al Qaeda and its allies, which continues unabated five years following the horrific events of 9/11.

In addition to fighting terrorism abroad, we must also prepare for and defend against a terrorist attack here in the U.S. In the Senate, I have worked to allocate our homeland security funding on a risk-focused basis; increase rail and chemical plant security to avoid the prospect of terrorists transforming our chemical plants and hazardous material rail shipments into lethal chemical weapons; and to take steps to, once and for all, ensure that our first responders have reliable access to secure interoperable communications.

Acomplishments of 2010

Securing Nuclear Material at Hospitals: To thwart terrorist attempts to acquire nuclear material, Senator Casey has called on the Obama Administration to increase efforts to secure radiological material at major hospitals. In a letter to National Nuclear Security Administration Administrator Thomas D'Agostino, Senator Casey called for increased security measures and training for first responders based on a successful model implemented at the University of Pennsylvania.

Securing Air Cargo and Protecting Against Terrorists Attacks: Following the terrorist attempt to ship explosive devices from Yemen in packages, Senator Casey in November introduced the Air Cargo Security Act to expand the 100% screening mandate to all-cargo aircraft.

Aiding First Responders

Tuition for Children of Fallen Emergency Responders: In September, Senator Casey introduced the Officer Daniel Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act, a bill that provides college tuition assistance for the children of firefighters, police officers and EMS workers killed in the line of duty.

Federal Emergency Response: Senator Casey in June introduced the National Emergency Centers Establishment Act of 2010, a bill to address shortcomings in the federal response to national disasters and terrorist attacks -- specifically, in the areas of training and logistic facilities and housing for temporarily displaced persons. The bill would create National Emergency Centers, including a potential site at the Joint Readiness Center at the Pittsburgh International Airport Reserve Station.

9/11 Heroes Health Care Bill: Senator Casey was a strong supporter of legislation signed into law to ensure health care for the 9/11 heroes who heeded the call of duty to respond to the attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) and who participated in the recovery efforts. Senator Casey was a cosponsor of legislation introduced previously in the Senate on which the new law was based.

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