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service in Washington, but it was a long trip for you and we greatly appreciate your work in convening this meeting here. We welcome your interest and we are ready as a city to discuss these important matters with you and the other members of the subcommittee. Thank you very, very much.

[The prepared statement of Mr. Purcell follows:]

Remarks of Mayor Bill Purcell

to the Subcommittee on Governmental Efficiency,

Financial Management and Intergovernmental Relations

Mr. Chairman. Congressman Clement. Let me take this opportunity to welcome you and the Subcommittee on Governmental Efficiency, Financial Management and Intergovernmental Relations here to Nashville for this hearing on the efforts of local and state governments to prepare for terrorist attacks.

Your interest in bringing these hearings here, into the heartland of America shows a welcome appreciation of the challenges local governments face in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. These challenges were spelled out in a survey issued in January by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The survey of 200 cities finds that cities across the country expect to spend more than an additional $2.6 billion on security between September 11, 2001 and the end of 2002.

On September 11, 2001, the City of New York and Washington, D.C. came under a foreign terrorist attack unprecedented in American history.

Although Nashville did not come under attack, all departments of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County immediately began preparations under our Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.

Today you will hear from the leaders of our state and local homeland security, public safety and emergency preparedness departments. Since September 11 we have all been engaged in the task of assuring the public safety of our citizens and assessing our preparedness for potential emergencies and crises.

Within the week after the attack, our Deputy Mayor Bill Phillips convened a meeting of the public safety department directors to assess Metro's initial response and to determine what additional actions by the various departments of Metro Government were under consideration or appropriate.

The Deputy Mayor tasked the Director of Metro Fire, Chief Stephen Halford, to conduct an overall assessment of the operations executed and preparations to be taken by Metro departments in order to insure increased public safety.

After a comprehensive review of relevant emergency plans regarding the terrorist threat, it was concluded that the government of Nashville and Davidson County was well prepared to address the terrorist attacks before the events of September 11, 2001 and in subsequent weeks all departments demonstrated an even improved ability to respond to the terrorist challenge. Our review of Metro Preparedness was released November 1. The report concluded, “Based on its prior level of preparedness, its response to a devastating tornado strike, its high marks by federal officials on a chemical disaster exercise and additional preparedness actions taken subsequent to the September 11th attacks, it clearly appears that Metro government is indeed well

This report also highlights the things we have learned since that time, how we can better prepare for the future and includes recommendations for improving our readiness. Some of these recommendations have already been addressed. For example, after the increased threats of bioterrorism became apparent, Metro issued guidelines for facilities receiving anthrax threats. These guidelines have been shared throughout the government, with businesses and posted on the Metro Web site.

Since that time we have taken further steps to strengthen our preparedness. At the end of last year the Metro Council approved $2 million in funding for the construction of a temporary backup training facility for our E-911 Center. An additional $4.2 million is now available for the construction of a new police precinct to serve North Nashville. These were actions that were planned before the terrorists attacks, but they reflect our resolve to protect the safety of our citizens.

Like most jurisdictions we have also assumed additional costs during this time. When the nation's mayors met with President Bush in January, he told us he planned to increase the funding for homeland security for state and local governments. The President made good on that commitment in his budget including $3.5 billion for state and local government preparedness efforts. You will hear from Chief Halford, our Police Chief Emmett, and Jim Thacker, director of Nashville's Office of Emergency Management on our response and our preparations. With your assistance, I am confident that we will both win the war against terrorism and strengthen our nation and our community.

Thank you again Chairman Horn and Congressman Clement for bringing this hearing to
Nashville. We welcome your interest and are ready to discuss this vital issue with you.

Mr. HORN. Well thank you very much for your graciousness and your hospitality, we appreciate it. Mayor, I think you are going to be able to sit with us for awhile, if you have time? If you do not, I know you are busy.

Mayor PURCELL. Well actually I will be able to be with you for a time. Again, my department heads are well represented here. Today is also, I might add, Mr. Chairman, since you gave me the opportunity, Read Across America Day. We are celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday and the children of Nashville are reading all across this city, and then hopefully we will be reading tomorrow the results of this hearing as well. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. HORN. Thank you.

We now have panel one. They are in place, and since this is an investigatory committee, if you would, take the oath.

[Witnesses sworn.]

Mr. HORN. The clerk will note that all seven have taken the oath.

Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Chairman, could I submit this letter for the record from Senator Frist, who could not be here today because of a conflict? One statement he made in the letter, I think is real appropriate. It is not that we are unprepared for the threat concerning bioterrorism, rather we are under-prepared. I think that is something that we need to focus upon. And then also, I appreciate the representatives of Senator Fred Thompson being here today as well.

Mr. HORN. And do you want those in the record?

Mr. CLEMENT. Yes.

Mr. HORN. Without objection, so ordered.

We will now go to the honorable Wendell H. Gilbert, the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs and Deputy to the Governor for Homeland Security. We are glad to have you here, Mr. Gilbert. [The information referred to follows:]

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Thank you for your leadership in hosting this Congressional field hearing in Nashville today on Tennessee's bioterrorism preparedness. I regret that I cannot be with you, and hope you will convey my thanks to Congressman Horn for making Nashville the first stop in these important national hearings.

You have an impressive panel of experts before you today, many of whom were a tremendous help to me as we developed the "Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2001," which passed the United States Senate last year. In fact, I was home in Nashville, holding a roundtable discussion on bioterrorism at the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency on Monday, October 15 - the very morning the letter containing anthrax was opened in Senator Daschle's Washington office.

We have learned so much since then, and your hearings today will help add to our understanding of how best to prevent, prepare for, and respond to bioterrorist threats. As I have said many times: It is not that we are unprepared for the threat bioterrorism, rather, we are underprepared. That's why hearings like this moming's are so important as we seek ways at the federal level to ensure that appropriate resources are applied effectively and efficiently in our communities, truly the front line of defense, as we endeavor to protect the public health and safety from this growing threat.

I am very pleased that both the House and Senate have passed important bipartisan bioterrorism preparedness legislation and that Congress last year voted to provide over $3 billion to help defend our citizens against bioterrorist attacks and other public health emergencies. As a result of our work thus far, Tennessee should receive a significant boost in federal funding this year - about $20 million - to help protect our state and its citizens from bioterrorism.

Clearly, there is more to do, and I know your discussions today will be productive in helping guide us in the months and years ahead. I look forward to continuing to work with you on this critical issue.

Sincerely,

Jill Just

Bill Frist, MD.
United States Senator

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