DHS: Progress and priorities, II

improve the sharing of information and intelligence with federal, state, local and tribal partners, and to change the departmental culture from a “need to know” approach to a “responsibility to provide.” I&A has deployed twenty-five intelligence officers, as well as supporting information sharing systems, to fusion centers across the country.

  • Credentialing port workers: Since its October 2007 launch, more than 454,000 port workers have enrolled in the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) biometric credential program, and thousands more are processed each week. More than 1.2 million longshoremen, truck drivers, port employees and others requiring unescorted access to secure areas of ports will be required to obtain a TWIC on a phased-in basis by 15 April 2009 and use it for port access.
  • Protecting the federal workforce: ICE’s Federal Protective Service (FPS) officers protect approximately 9,000 federal facilities nationwide. In fiscal 2007, FPS was responsible for approximately 3,000 citations and arrests and intercepted roughly 760,000 prohibited items.
  • Counter-improvised explosive device (IED) efforts: In addition to TSA explosives detection technology at airports and Transportation Security Officer training, science and technology development, and the coordination efforts of the Office for Bombing Prevention, the department has also made billions of dollars in grants available to states and communities for IED prevention and protection.
  • Addressing biological threats: The Office of Health Affairs has overseen the development and operational capabilities of the National Biosurveillance Integration Center (NBIC), which integrates biosurveillance data and information on biological incidents to enhance situational awareness. To date, NBIC has played an integral role in a number of recent biological events, including the recent Salmonella saintpaul outbreak, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, cases of Extremely Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, as well as pet food and E. coli incidents. NBIC continues to enhance partnerships and coordination with federal agencies, state and local governments and the private sector through increased communications and development of daily situational reports and a biosurveillance common operating picture.

    • Building an effective emergency response system and a culture of preparedness

    The debate about the role of FEMA, and whether or not it should be an independent agency, goes on, but DHS continues to improve its capabilities and prepare those who respond to acts of terror and other emergencies by incorporating lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, other disasters, and the 9-11 Commission’s recommendations.

    • Response to more than 400 disasters: Since March of 2003 FEMA has responded to 454 major disaster and emergency declarations that included floods, tornadoes, winter and tropical storms, landslides and