For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 8, 2001
Homeland Security - Every American Can Help
Today's Presidential Action
- Americans are looking for ways to get
involved in the war against terrorism on the home front. The
President announced two new initiatives today to give citizens new
opportunities to support Homeland Security efforts, and to help every
American better prepare to respond to terrorist attacks.
- The President announced that the
Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) will support
homeland security in the coming year in three major areas: public
safety; public health; and disaster mitigation and
preparedness. CNCS proposes to mobilize more than 20,000
Senior Corps and AmeriCorps participants in FY 2002 to support these
efforts.
- President Bush also created the
Presidential Task Force on Citizen Preparedness in the War Against
Terrorism. Within 40 days, the Task Force will make
recommendations to help prepare Americans in their homes,
neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, places of worship and public places
from the potential consequences of terrorist attacks. The
Task Force will also recommend ways for Americans to support local
officials, including in police departments, fire departments
and community health centers, who are often the first to respond to a
terrorist attack. The Task Force will be co-chaired by the
President's Homeland Security and Domestic Policy advisers and will
consist of the relevant Federal agency heads.
Background on New Service Options to Support Homeland Security
- Supporting Public Safety: CNCS proposes to
provide more than 10,000 additional Senior Corps and AmeriCorps
participants to support police departments, fire departments, and other
local agencies such as parks and recreation
departments. These participants would free up local
personnel to meet their front line responsibilities by performing
administrative tasks and other functions that can be performed by
non-commissioned officers.
- Supporting Public Healh: CNCS
proposes to provide more than 5,000 additional Senior Corps and
AmeriCorps members to support public health agencies in outreach and
information dissemination and administrative
support. Resources will be targeted at low-income
communities.
- Supporting Disaster Preparedness: CNCS
proposes to provide more than 5,000 additional Senior Corps and
AmeriCorps participants in disaster preparedness and
mitigation. AmeriCorps and Senior Corps volunteers have a
long track record of working with FEMA and other relief agencies in
helping communities to respond to disasters.