Obama pushes security upgrades for seaports and first responder communications

As President Obama put some meat on the bones of his promised infrastructure revitalization plan, it became clear yesterday that strengthening security at the nation’s seaports and improving first responder communications networks are two areas likely to receive federal funding in the short term. In his Saturday radio and Internet address on Jan. 24, Obama provided more details than ever on his “American Reinvestment Plan,” aimed at creating or saving three to four million jobs.

In addition to repairing traditional roadways and mass transit systems, said Obama, infrastructure revitalization “means protecting America by securing 90 major ports and creating a better communications network for local law enforcement and public safety officials in the event of an emergency.” Obama’s fleeting reference to improving the communications network for first responders may have been a last-minute addition to the president’s radio address because no similar reference was included in an accompanying four-page fact sheet, called The American Reinvestment and Recovery Plan – By the Numbers, which was posted by the White House at the same time as Obama’s broadcast.

That fact sheet cites, “Enhancing the security of 90 major ports, to improve homeland security, increase international trade and commerce, and create jobs,” but says nothing about improving any first responder communications systems. The American Association of Port Authorities, which represents 86 public port authorities in the U.S., sent its president and CEO, Kurt Nagle, to a congressional hearing last October to promote infrastructure spending generally – and security spending, specifically – at the nation’s ports. “Seaports serve as the transit point for most military mobilization, and it is the first line of homeland defense against a dirty bomb,” Nagle told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

“We must continue to keep America safe by providing secure seaport facilities to both protect our borders and move goods.” In its editor’s note published in its January 2009 issue, GSN: Government Security News wrote, “it’s important that the nation’s homeland security infrastructure agenda is incorporated into the president’s spending plan.”

The editorial recommended that security-related expenditures be made “to utilize radiation detection portals at our largest seaports,” as well as other approaches. In a related matter, the Homeland Security Information Network Advisory Committee, which advises the leaders of DHS on the operation of the information network used by federal, state and local law enforcement and homeland security officials, announced it was holding a public meeting in Potomac, MD, Feb. 10-12. The agenda will include updates on efforts to improve the HSIN and a presentation on civil-military information sharing. Further information is available by visiting www.regulations.gov and citing docket number DHS-2009-0003.

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