provide a much more comprehensive approach to preparing the nation to respond to future terrorist attacks. The Congressman, a member of the Homeland Security Committee, stressed "this legislation will finally establish standards of preparedness and give first responders the resources and direction they need to do the job if we are attacked in the future."

The Preparing America to Respond Effectively Act (PREPARE) will improve the first responder funding system, bolster information sharing, threat warnings, communications and equipment interoperability and integrate private companies and the public into response plans.

Major elements of the PREPARE Act include:

* Creation of a Task Force on Standards for Terrorism Preparedness to determine what resources are needed on the local and state levels to be prepared for a terrorist attack. It also establishes national standards that define levels of preparedness;

* Streamlining the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant process by creating PREPARE Grants to provide every jurisdiction with what is needed to defend against a terrorist attack;

* Requiring the DHS to reform the threat advisory system so that it can issue alerts to the affected geographic area or industry sector.

* Clarifying the responsibilities of DHS, the FBI and the Terrorism Threat Integration Center for sharing and receiving information with local and state governments; and,.

* Requiring DHS to develop first responder equipment and training standards and requiring that such equipment be interoperable within first responder communities.

The legislation is a response to a June 29, 2003 report by the Council on Foreign Relations titled "Emergency Responders: Drastically Underfunded, Dangerously Unprepared." The Task Force that issued the report was chaired by former Sen. Warren Rudman, R-NH. It stated that nearly two years after the attacks of Sept. 11, the United States is drastically under funding local emergency responders and remains dangerously unprepared to handle a catastrophic attack on the United States.

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