RIDGE SWORN IN AS SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Governor Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania was sworn in Friday as the first Secretary of the new Department of Homeland Security, the same day the Department officially stood up. During a ceremony in the White House, President Bush called Secretary Ridge "the right man" to lead the nation's first comprehensive and coordinated effort to secure the nation's borders and citizens against terrorism.  more

HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE 5 (HSPD-5) ISSUED

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PRESIDENT'S HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL STATEWIDE TEMPLATE

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FACT SHEET:  FY 03 Supplemental Budget Request

The President's FY '03 Supplemental Budget requests $3.5 billion for the Department of Homeland Security to confront threats to the United States and the American people. This request provides the flexibility the Secretary as well as state and local governments need to meet the ever changing nature of terrorism.  more

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge announced today that nearly $600 million has been made available to the states and U.S. territories to better assist state and local public safety and law enforcement personnel to help them prevent, prepare and respond to terrorism.  more

FACT SHEET:  FY 2003 Funding

In the past two years the President and Congress have nearly doubled the funding for homeland security. This increase in funds has significantly strengthened America's protections against terrorism. The Department of Homeland Security's top priority is getting this money into the system to fund the programs and buy the equipment that will make America safer.  more

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FACTS FOR MARCH 1, 2003

On March 1, the Department of Homeland Security assumes operational control of nearly 180,000 employees from incoming agencies and offices. In addition, a series of Presidential Directives and Memoranda of Understanding transfer specific authorities and responsibilities to the Department of Homeland Security.  more

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR STATES AND LOCALITIES

Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge announced today that nearly $1.5 billion has been made available to the states, localities and U.S. territories through the Office of Domestic Preparedness.  These funds will help state and local public safety and law enforcement personnel pay for planning, training, equipment and exercises and other costs associated with enhanced security measures deployed during the heightened threat period.  more

FACT SHEET:  FY 03 Supplemental Funding

Today, the President has signed the FY '03 Supplemental Bill authorizing an additional $6.71 billion for the Department of Homeland Security to support Departmental functions and domestic counterterrorism operations that have been activated as a part of Operation Liberty Shield at the start of the war in Iraq.  more

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY RIDGE ON LOWERING THE THREAT LEVEL

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STATEMENT BY SECRETARY RIDGE ON LOWERING THE THREAT LEVEL  more

HOMELAND SECURITY HELPS TRAIN CITIZENS FOR EMERGENCIES WITH $19 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS

Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced today the availability of $19 million in grant money to train citizens to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities through local Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). Brown made the announcement at a meeting with CERT members from the city of Olathe, Kan., who assisted first responders after tornadoes devastated areas of Kansas earlier this month.  more

FACT SHEET:  Community Emergency Response Teams

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies occur, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.  more

REMARKS BY SECRETARY RIDGE AT THE MEDIA SECURITY AND RELIABILITY COUNCIL

SECRETARY RIDGE - We need to protect those means by which we communicate timely and accurate information to the public during periods of crisis, and so we're going to stick around a little bit longer and benefit from your discussion of best practices. I mean, we think the work you've done, we suspect has immediate application to that point.  more

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY RIDGE ON RAISING THE THREAT LEVEL  more

FUNDS AWARDED TO OKLAHOMA FIRST RESPONDERS

Today Governor Brad Henry announced the awards for the initial phase of the Oklahoma First Responder Equipment Program. The program is a multi-phased approach to providing equipment, training and other support to first responders in Oklahoma.  more

OKLAHOMA CITY HOSTS LARGEST U.S. URBAN ATMOSPHERIC SURVEY

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Defense - Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) are sponsoring a month-long atmospheric dispersion study in Oklahoma City, Okla., June 28 to July 31, 2003. Nearly 150 scientists, engineers, and student assistants are dedicated to this study.  more

SECRETARY RIDGE ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVES FOR PORT SECURITY

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, during an event at Port Elizabeth, New Jersey highlighting the Department's efforts to secure our nation's ports, announced new port security initiatives and investments to provide increased international cooperation, greater use of technology, and additional funds for port security facility enhancements.  more

NEW HOMELAND SECURITY SCHOLARS AND FELLOWS PROGRAM GRANT AWARDS

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will announce this week approximately 100 recipients of highly competitive awards under the new Homeland Security Scholars and Fellows Program.  more

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA TEAM UP TO HELP THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PREPARE AMERICANS

Baseball and Boy Scouts - two of America's institutions - are joining the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in an unprecedented campaign to help Americans prepare for potential terrorist attacks.  more

FACT SHEET:  National Special Security Events

When an event is designated a National Special Security Event, the Secret Service assumes its mandated role as the lead federal agency for the design and implementation of the operational security plan and Federal resources are deployed to maintain the level of security needed for the event and the area.  more

SALVATION ARMY AND READY.GOV PARTNER TO HELP MAKE AMERICA MORE PREPARED

Charitable Americans donating to The Salvation Army will learn more about preparing for potential terrorist attacks, thanks to a partnership between The Salvation Army and the Department of Homeland Security.  more

HOMELAND SECURITY AND DEPARTMENT OF STATE TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO MAKE AIR TRAVEL EVEN SAFER

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State today suspended two programs that allow certain international air passengers to travel through the United States for transit purposes without first obtaining a visa.  more

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AWARDS $74 MILLION IN EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER (EOC) GRANTS

The Department of Homeland Security announced today that almost $74 million in funds is being made available to 19 states and territories in the form of grants for improvements to and construction of emergency operations centers (EOCs) around the country.  more

FACT SHEET:  Emergency Operation Center (EOC) Grants

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is administering the Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) grant-funding program. The grants are designed to help improve emergency preparedness and management by ensuring that EOCs have the support, and telecommunications capabilities that provide flexibility, sustainability, security, survivability, and interoperability.  more

NEW HOMELAND SECURITY SCHOLARS AND FELLOWS ACCEPT AWARDS

101 Award winners begin homeland security studies this fall.  more

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY RIDGE APPROVES INITIAL NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN

U. S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge today announced approval of the Initial National Response Plan (INRP), an interim plan designed to help develop a unified approach to domestic incident management across the Nation.  more

FACT SHEET:  Initial National Response Plan

What the Initial National Response Plan does for America's homeland security: The INRP represents a significant first step towards an overall goal of integrating the current family of Federal domestic prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery plans into a single all-discipline, all-hazards plan.  more

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT ON SIGNING OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT

THE PRESIDENT - Many of you have served your country for years, in agencies with proud histories and honored traditions. Some of you are new to the federal service. All of us share a great responsibility. Our job is to secure the American homeland, to protect the American people. And we're meeting that duty together.  more

FACT SHEET:  FY 2004 Budget

Today President Bush signed the first ever homeland security appropriations bill at the Department of Homeland Security, continuing his commitment to protect the American people. Overall, the Department’s FY 2004 budget authority totals $37.6 billion: $30.4 billion provided by the Congress plus an additional $7.2 billion in fees.  more

STATEMENT BY DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ON CONTINUED AL-QAEDA THREATS

The American people know that we will always find friends and strength in multinational partners -- in the Asia-Pacific Region, in the United Nations in a true "culture of cooperation."  more

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ANNOUNCES TIPS FOR SMOOTH HOLIDAY TRAVEL

Air travelers who follow three simple tips, which can be summarized as IN, OUT, and OFF, will contribute significantly to steps the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is taking to ensure aviation security and make travel as enjoyable as possible during the busy Thanksgiving holiday season, DHS Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security, Asa Hutchinson said today at Reagan National Airport.  more

REMARKS BY SECRETARY RIDGE ANNOUNCING FY 04 ODP GRANT ALLOCATIONS

Today, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge announced the allocation of over $2.2 billion dollars in grant funding from the Office for Domestic Preparedness demonstrating the Administration’s commitment to enhance the abilities of our first responders to prevent, respond and recover from potential acts of terrorism.  For the first time, states can apply online for their allocated grants using one form that will serve as a “one-stop-shop” application for three different programs that benefit first responders and will provide additional resources to state and local government counterterrorism efforts.  more

REMARKS BY SECRETARY RIDGE AT A PRESS CONFERENCE REGARDING THE NATIONAL THREAT LEVEL

Good afternoon. Just over a week ago the United States Government raised the national threat level from an "Elevated" to a "High" risk of terrorist attack - or as is more commonly known, from Code Yellow to Code Orange.  more

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ANNOUNCES $179 IN GRANTS TO SECURE AMERICA'S PORTS

442 projects to receive funds for security enhancements.  more