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WASHINGTON, July 6, 2004—Agriculture
Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced that $100 million is committed
for a new USDA First Responder Initiative to support rural emergency responder
efforts by prioritizing the financing for needed equipment and services.
“The Bush Administration is committed
to assisting rural communities prepare for emergencies and the delivery
of lifesaving services,” Veneman said during a visit here with Homeland
Security Secretary Tom Ridge to the University of Minnesota to recognize
the new Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence for Agro
Security. “The funds announced today are a major investment in the
lives and security of our citizens and are part of USDA’s ongoing
investment in the future of rural communities and their ability to better
prepare for emergency situations.”
Veneman said that as part of USDA’s First Responder
Initiative, a minimum of one dollar of every five dollars of fiscal year
2004 community facility funding available, will be dedicated to first
responder type requests. USDA Rural Development provides financing of
a variety of community facilities, such as: libraries, courthouses, fire
and rescue facilities and equipment, police and emergency vehicles and
services and other community focused facilities and services. The initiative
will prioritize the funding of at least $100 million to specifically strengthen
the ability of rural communities to respond to local emergencies. The
following types of projects are emphasized through this initiative:
Fire Protection Equipment
Fire Station
Fire Trucks
Rescue and Ambulance Service - Equipment
Emergency Response Training
Physicians Clinic
Early Storm Warning System
County Health Department Office
Food Preparation Distribution Center
Animal Shelter – Veterinarians
Education Facilities for Emergency
Police Station
Police Car
Civil Defense Building
Building
Hospital
Outpatient Care
Office Building (Health Care)
Migrant Health Centers
Communications Center
Mobil Communications Center
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Veneman said that so far $81 million has been obligated
to fund 20 fire stations, 24 fire trucks, 8 police cars and other fire
and rescue equipment, including $36,500 for a fire truck and ambulance
for Minnesota. In addition, funding will support over 20 health care related
efforts such as hospitals and medical centers, as well as nine ambulances.
In total, over 100 first responder applications have been approved for
funding. Funding of selected applicants will be contingent upon meeting
the conditions of the loan and/or grant agreement. A list of the individual
awards can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/newsroom/2004
/firstresponders2004list.html
During the Bush Administration over $1.5
billion has been invested by USDA Rural Development to address essential
community needs that assist with public safety, education, health care,
cultural, transportation, and other public needs, including: the purchase
of 508 fire trucks, 103 police cars, and 156 ambulances and construction
or renovation of 79 hospitals, 71 public or charter schools, and 155 child
care centers. In addition, $29 million in grant funds have been invested
in 93 telemedicine grant projects to develop technologies needed to enhance
medical care involving 846 health care institutions.
Secretary Veneman and Secretary Ridge were
in Minneapolis today to highlight a new Department of Homeland Security
Centers of Excellence for Agro Security. In January of this year, President
Bush signed a Homeland Security Presidential Directive, known as HSPD-9,
which is a national strategy for food and agriculture. It formalizes security
strategies and approaches, including the establishment of these university-based
Centers of Excellence.
In April, the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security announced that Texas A&M University and the University of
Minnesota were chosen to lead two new centers. DHS anticipates providing
Texas A&M University, the University of Minnesota and their partners
with a total of $33 million over the course of the next three years to
address security in two key agricultural sectors -- foreign animal diseases
and food security. The work that will be done at these two outstanding
institutions is a vital component of our efforts to engage partners at
all levels, including governments, academia and the private sector, to
help protect food and agriculture.
“The stakes are very high, not only
in terms of human health and our agriculture system, but also in terms
of our economy,” said Veneman. “The food and fiber produced
in our nation account for $1.24 trillion or more than 12 percent of our
gross domestic product. The food and agriculture sectors also employ nearly
24 million Americans or about 17 percent of our workforce. Research conducted
at these institutions will greatly enhance our ability to protect against
animal and plant pests and diseases and food pathogens."
For more information about USDA’s
effort in homeland security, visit www.usda.gov/.
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