CONTENTS Hearing held on July 3, 2002 Letters, statements, etc., submitted for the record by: Page 1 77 Bogner, James, Special Agent in Charge, Omaha Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, prepared statement of 30 Conohan, Lieutenant Tim, emergency preparedness coordinator, Omaha Letter dated July 25, 2002 Prepared statement of Gates, W. Gary, vice president, Nuclear Division, Omaha Public Power 105 Hainje, Richard, region VII, FEMA, prepared statement of Hecker, JayEtta, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, General Accounting Office, prepared statements of.... 6, 120 Heineman, David, Lieutenant Governor, State of Nebraska, prepared statement of 80 Hinrichs, Steven, M.D., director of Nebraska health laboratory, director Smith, Philip W., M.D., chief of infectious diseases, department of inter- Wagner, Paul R., fire chief, city of Omaha, prepared statement of HOW EFFECTIVELY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN PREPARING FOR A BIOLOGICAL, CHEMICAL OR NUCLEAR ATTACK WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2002 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, FINANCIAL Omaha, NE. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:04 a.m., in the Private Dining Room, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 45th and Emile Streets, Omaha, NE, Hon. Stephen Horn (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Representatives Horn and Terry. Staff present: J. Russell George, staff director and chief counsel; Bonnie Heald, deputy staff director; Justin Paulhamus, clerk; Chris Barkley, staff assistant; and Michael Sazonov, Sterling Bentley, Joe DiSilvio, and Yigal Kerszenbaum, interns. Mr. HORN. A quorum being present, the hearing of the Subcommittee on Government Efficiency, Financial Management and Intergovernmental Relations will come to order. On September 11, 2001, the world witnessed the most devastating acts ever committed on U.S. soil. Despite the damage and enormous loss of life, the attacks failed to cripple this Nation. To the contrary, Americans have never been more united in their fundamental belief in freedom and their willingness to protect that freedom. The diabolical nature of those attacks and then the deadly release of anthrax sent a loud and clear message to all Americans. We must be prepared for the unexpected. We must have the mechanisms in place to protect this Nation and its people from further attempts to cause massive destruction. The aftermath of September 11th clearly demonstrated the need for adequate communications systems and rapid deployment of well-trained emergency personnel. Yet despite billions of dollars in spending on Federal emergency programs, there remains serious doubts as to whether the Nation is equipped to handle a massive chemical, biological or nuclear attack. Today the subcommittee will examine how effectively Federal, State and local agencies are working together to prepare for such emergencies. We want those who live in this great State of Ne COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM DAN BURTON, Indiana, Chairman BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, New York DOUG OSE, California RON LEWIS, Kentucky JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia TODD RUSSELL PLATTS, Pennsylvania DAVE WELDON, Florida HENRY A. WAXMAN, California PATSY T. MINK, Hawaii CAROLYN B. MALONEY, New York ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, Washington, DC ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, Maryland DENNIS J. KUCINICH, Ohio ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH, Illinois JOHN F. TIERNEY, Massachusetts THOMAS H. ALLEN, Maine JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY, Illinois DIANE E. WATSON, California STEPHEN F. LYNCH, Massachusetts BERNARD SANDERS, Vermont (Independent) KEVIN BINGER, Staff Director DANIEL R. MOLL, Deputy Staff Director SUBCOMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS RON LEWIS, Kentucky STEPHEN HORN, California, Chairman DOUG OSE, California DAN BURTON, Indiana JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY, Illinois MAJOR R. OWENS, New York PAUL E. KANJORSKI, Pennsylvania CAROLYN B. MALONEY, New York EX OFFICIO HENRY A. WAXMAN, California J. RUSSELL GEORGE, Staff Director and Chief Counsel (II) CONTENTS Page 1 Hearing held on July 3, 2002 Letters, statements, etc., submitted for the record by: 77 Bogner, James, Special Agent in Charge, Omaha Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, prepared statement of 30 Conohan, Lieutenant Tim, emergency preparedness coordinator, Omaha Letter dated July 25, 2002 75 Prepared statement of ... 44 Gates, W. Gary, vice president, Nuclear Division, Omaha Public Power 105 Hainje, Richard, region VII, FEMA, prepared statement of 92 Hecker, JayEtta, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, General Accounting Office, prepared statements of.... Heineman, David, Lieutenant Governor, State of Nebraska, prepared Hinrichs, Steven, M.D., director of Nebraska health laboratory, director Smith, Philip W., M.D., chief of infectious diseases, department of inter- Wagner, Paul R., fire chief, city of Omaha, prepared statement of |