J.C. Watts: “I rise in support of H.R. 4210, the Preparedness Against Terrorism Act. Domestic terrorism has affected my life…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 4210, the Preparedness Against Terrorism Act. Domestic terrorism has affected my life profoundly. I said to myself after the death of 169 innocent men, women, and children in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing that I would lend my support and endeavor indefatigably to do everything possible to ensure that when terrorism touches America again, we will be as prepared as possible to deal with the consequences. However, today, the truth is the American government is just not able to properly deal with a massive biological/chemical/nuclear terrorist attack. In 1998, the Attorney General created the National Domestic Preparedness Office (NDPO) within the FBI to coordinate federal terrorism preparedness programs. Prior to this switch, the Department of Defense was the lead body. The NDPO's mission is to coordinate the more than forty federal departments and agencies with programs to assist state and local emergency responders--firefighters, police, and ER workers--with planning, training, equipment, and exercise drills necessary to respond to a conventional or non-conventional weapon of mass destruction (WMD) terrorist incident. Unfortunately, the NDPO has not been able to perform as proposed due to funding shortfalls and a lack of authority necessary to execute its duties.”