Law Enforcement and Anti-Terrorism

SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS

"It is clear that one of the best ways to ensure our continued safety is to provide our first responders with the tools necessary to secure our communities. In my work in the U.S. Senate before September 11th, I made providing support and resources to law enforcement, firefighters and other first responders one of my key legislative goals. I worked hard to pass legislation and to ensure that they have what they needed to protect our communities. The post-September 11th world requires heightened concern for and steadfast commitment to providing for law enforcement, firefighters and other first responders. I will continue to make the fight against terrorism our number one priority.

As I travel around the state, I hear from law enforcement officers and elected officials about the importance to coordinating efforts in the fight against terrorism. I will continue to work in partnership with police and fire officials throughout the state to provide our first responders with the resources they need to protect Wisconsin communities."


ACHIEVEMENTS

Recognition of Senate Voting Record: Senator Feingold has been recognized for his work with local law enforcement by receiving the endorsement of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association and the National Association of Police Organizations along with a bipartisan group of over 150 police chiefs and sheriffs from around the state, and by receiving the "Senator of the Year Award" from the National Association of Police Organizations. Russ is also a proud recipient of the 2004 National Guard Association of the United States Charles Dick Medal of Merit Award for his distinguished work in support of the National Guard.

Supporting Local Law Enforcement: Senator Feingold has been a long-time supporter of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. In 2001, Senator Feingold announced $2.7 million in new COPS grants to allow Wisconsin police departments to add new officers to the street. Senator Feingold announced over $1.2 million in additional COPS grants in June of 2003. Since Congress first passed the program in 1994, more than 300 Wisconsin communities have benefited from over $70 million in COPS grants.

Senator Feingold co-sponsored the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2003, S. 764, which reauthorizes a grant program started in 1998 that has already funded 92,000 bulletproof vests for police officers in Wisconsin and across the country. The legislation will authorize up to $50 million per year for the program.

Advocating for First Responders: Senator Feingold has vigorously advocated on behalf of police, firefighters and other first responders, who put themselves at enormous risk to protect our communities in an emergency. Recently, Senator Feingold cosponsored legislation (S.921) that would assist local communities with funding to hire temporary replacement personnel for those first responders called into active duty as National Guard members or Reservists. Senator Feingold also cosponsored legislation (S.1612), which passed the Senate February 10, 2004, that will ensure safer communities by guaranteeing local first responders access to the most advanced counter-terrorism technologies available.

Senator Feingold announced in May of 2003 that Wisconsin will be allocated nearly $28 million through the Office of Domestic Preparedness at the Department of Homeland Security. In November 2003, Senator Feingold announced another $41 million that will be headed back to the state to provide first responders with additional resources to protect citizens and infrastructure. In the same month, Senators Feingold and Kohl announced an additional $10.2 million in project grants to be sent to Wisconsin for terrorism prevention and response.

Senator Feingold is working on additional support through the First Responders Support Act, S. 45. He introduced this legislation on the first day of the 108th Congress with Susan Collins (R-ME), and it will give first responders a strong voice in the Department of Homeland Security by establishing a federal liaison between the Department and first responders in each state. Senator Feingold believes it is crucial that local input be a part of the Department of Homeland Security, and will continue to make first responders' needs a priority.

Senator Feingold has co-sponsored bipartisan legislation, S. 838, to allow greater flexibility for state and local officials in spending homeland security funds. Under the current program states are required to spend 70% of the federal funds for equipment and 7% on planning. Senator Feingold's legislation would allow states to apply for a waiver if local officials believed that the needs of local first responders would be better served by a different allocation of funds.

Senator Feingold has also raised the concerns of local firefighter and law enforcement agencies from across Wisconsin about a plan to administer all federal grants for first responders solely through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Senator Feingold has recommended augmenting existing programs administered through the Department of Justice such as the COPS Program, Local Law Enforcement Block Grants (LLEBG), and the Edward Byrne Memorial Formula Grants, instead of creating an entirely new program. He has also suggested the federal funding of permanent, full-time personnel to coordinate training and planning at the regional and state levels for response to terrorism or other disaster-related incidents.

Volunteers for Safe Skies: Senator Feingold holds a Listening Session in of each Wisconsin's 72 counties, every year. In 2001, Beloit Fire Chief James Reseburg and Beloit Deputy Police Chief Charles Tubbs attended the Rock County Listening Session, and inspired Senator Feingold to introduce the Volunteers for Safe Skies Act, S. 1458, which became law in November of 2001 as part of the Aviation Security Bill. The law formally establishes a common practice of public safety officials flying commercial airlines. It creates a program for certified law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and EMTs, when traveling as ordinary passengers, to register confidentially and voluntarily with the airlines to provide assistance in the event of an emergency.

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Sand Creek Fire Dept. receives federal grant, (Chetek Alert, September 30, 2004)

Volunteer fire departments receive grants for upgrades, (Fond du Lac Reporter, September 5, 2004)

Hartford Fire Department receives 2004 Assistance to Firefighters Grant, (West Bend Daily News, August 20, 2004)

More Cops On The Beat, (Capital Times, August 20, 2004)

Holmen gets federal fire grant, (Holmen Courier, June 18, 2004)

Loganville Fire Department awarded grant, (Reedsburg Times Press, June 16, 2004)

Legislation would help fight gangs, (Beloit Daily News, May 10, 2004)