July 3, 2006– Vol. 4, Issue No. 24

OPERATIONAL NEWS
1. DHS Responds to Mid-Atlantic Flooding 
2. Secretary Says Congress Needs to Act on Comprehensive Immigration Reform
3. Under Secretary Announces Final National Infrastructure Protection Plan
4. DHS Officials Discuss Emergency Preparedness for Disabled, Elderly
 
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
5. CG Innovation Expo Showcases New Ideas, Technologies
6. USCIS to Welcome 18,000 New Americans during July 4th Citizenship Ceremonies 

UPCOMING EVENTS
 
DHS Today is a weekly e-newsletter produced by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Public Affairs. Send questions, comments, and feedback to the editorial staff at: dhstoday@hq.dhs.gov. To access recent editions of the newsletter, please click here.https://dhsonline.dhs.gov/portal/jhtml/dc/sf.jhtml?doid=23192

OPERATIONAL NEWS
 
1. DHS Responds to Mid-Atlantic Flooding 
 
After record rainfall in parts of the Mid-Atlantic region last week, DHS provided personnel and assets from FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard to support state and local response efforts to flooding in the region.
 
FEMA activated its Regional Response Coordination Center in Philadelphia to integrate federal support for state and local response efforts. This center was staffed with approximately 30 FEMA personnel to monitor events as they unfolded in the affected region. FEMA also made contact with state emergency management officials in the impacted states and deployed liaisons to state Emergency Operations Centers in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia, to provide assistance to officials as requested. In Maryland, FEMA deployed four teams, of three members each, to conduct disaster assessments. 
As of Sunday, FEMA Director R. David Paulison announced federal disaster assistance to four states: Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, and Ohio. 
 
Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard had two Jayhawk helicopter rescue crews that conducted search and rescue operations. These crews rescued four people in the New Milford, Pa. area, in one day. 
 
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2. Secretary Says Congress Needs to Act on Comprehensive Immigration Reform
 
Secretary Chertoff last week said that for progress to continue on securing the nation’s borders, Congress must take action on comprehensive immigration reform legislation this year. 

Secretary Chertoff speaks about comprehensive immigration reform at the American Enterprise Institute. Photo by Barry Bahler, DHS	
“Whatever you think about the various elements of this debate, it has to be clear to everybody that we cannot allow this problem to continue to fester, because if we don't address it, and if we don't address it comprehensively, it is not going to go away of its own accord. It will be here next year and in the next decade and in the decades afterwards, and it will only become a problem that gets worse,” the secretary said in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C.
 
The secretary said DHS is making progress with its Secure Border Initiative by putting in place the resources necessary to stem the tide of illegal immigration, noting that more Border Patrol agents, sophisticated technology, detention beds, and barriers are part of the integrated plan. But to continue down this path, Congress must pass comprehensive legislation that includes a temporary worker program that will take away incentives for hiring illegal immigrants.
 
The secretary’s complete remarks are available at: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=5720
 
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3. Under Secretary Announces Final National Infrastructure Protection Plan 
 
Under Secretary for Preparedness George Foresman on Friday announced the completion of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP), a comprehensive risk management framework that clearly defines critical infrastructure protection roles and responsibilities for all levels of government, private industry, non-governmental agencies, and tribal partners. 
 
“The NIPP is the path forward on building and enhancing protective measures for the critical infrastructure assets and cyber systems that sustain commerce and communities throughout the United States,” said Foresman. “The NIPP formalizes and strengthens existing critical infrastructure partnerships and creates the baseline for how the public and private sectors will work together to build a safer, more secure and resilient America.”
 
The vast majority of the nation’s critical infrastructure is owned and operated by private industry or state, tribal, and local governments. The NIPP represents an unprecedented initiative at all levels of government and among private industry, tribal partners and non-governmental agencies, to build an overarching structure that integrates critical infrastructure security efforts, sets protection goals and supporting objectives, and focuses resources according to risk. 
 
More information about this announcement is available at: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=5721
 
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4. DHS Officials Discuss Emergency Preparedness for Disabled, Elderly 
 
Acknowledging that a disproportionate number of people with disabilities and people over the age of 65 were victims of Hurricane Katrina, Secretary Chertoff last week said DHS has taken steps to prevent a similar outcome for both groups when the next catastrophic event  occurs. Among those steps is better integrating people with disabilities and seniors into the emergency planning process and having subject matter experts involved in training exercises and actual disasters.
 
The secretary and other DHS officials, including FEMA Director R. David Paulison and Daniel Sutherland, head of the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), spoke at a conference addressing emergency preparedness issues that DHS co-sponsored with the Department of Health and Human Services. The conference also brought together representatives of states and territories from the various FEMA regions who discussed addressing the needs of special population groups during emergencies and disasters.
 
Claudia Gordon, CRCL senior policy advisor and one of the Secretary’s 2006 Gold Medal winners for her work on disability issues during Hurricane Katrina, spoke about the review that she, along with the Preparedness Directorate, undertook of state and urban plans for dealing with disability issues during disasters. After that review, none of the plans were found to be sufficient in addressing the needs of people with disabilities. Gordon acknowledged that much work remains to be done, but she said she was pleased with the review’s conclusions, which, among other things, called for a consistent definition of special needs to be developed and demographic information about people with disabilities to be included in emergency plans.

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

5. CG Innovation Expo Showcases New Ideas, Technologies

LCDR Karrie Trebbe gives a demonstration of the new Homeport portal to Deputy Secretary Jackson and Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Allen at the Coast Guard Innovation Exposition. Photo by Telfair Brown, USCG	
The U.S. Coast Guard held its sixth annual Innovation Expo last week in Tampa, Fla., one of the nation’s busiest ports. With its expansive and watery views, the Tampa Convention Center was host to nearly 1,400 Coast Guard, Department of Defense, DHS, and industry employees who browsed 240 exhibits ranging from SAFE boat displays, to the work of the Coast Guard's Research and Design Center, to thermal imaging tools recently approved for damage controllers. 
 
The annual event, which is put on in partnership with the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), showcases leading edge technology and creative solutions to operational challenges. This year's preparedness theme was particularly apt and guest speakers included Dr. Julie Louise Gerberding, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who tackled the thorny question of pandemics. Other speakers included the Coast Guard's Commandant, Adm. Thad Allen, and Vice Commandant Vivien Crea. They were joined by Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson and Lt. Gen. Joseph R. Inge, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Northern Command. 
 
In his remarks at an event announcing this year’s innovation awards, Deputy Secretary Jackson acknowledged the need for creativity within the DHS to better face issues of homeland security. Allen also acknowledged Coast Guard enlisted innovators, stating they “add value to the Coast Guard [and] ... are the heart and soul of the organization." That comment was emphasized by the variety of projects and diversity of thought comprising this year's talented list of winners. Both individuals and units were cited for an array of ideas ranging from methods for testing boat trailer lights to a maritime risk assessment model. And in a city that keeps a watchful eye on its coast from June through November, innovative technologies are a welcome sight.
 
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6. USCIS to Welcome 18,000 New Americans during July 4th Citizenship Ceremonies 
 
To commemorate the 230th birthday of the United States, USCIS will host more than 150 special July 4th citizenship ceremonies for 18,000 men, women, and children in cities and towns across America. 
 
“USCIS will welcome 18,000 new Americans who came to this country like millions of others from around the world with the simple hope for freedom and a better life—the basic principles upon which our Nation was founded 230 years ago,” remarked USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez. “As we celebrate our Nation’s independence on July 4th, these citizenship ceremonies are a tribute to the memory of our founding fathers who fought to secure freedom and liberty for every citizen and USCIS is doing its part to foster a greater appreciation for these values and welcome new citizens into our American family,” he added. 
 
To highlight the importance of U.S. citizenship, USCIS naturalization ceremonies are being held at prominent national and historic landmarks. From Oct. 1, 2005 to April 30, 2006, USCIS received 392,302 applications for citizenship, a 15 percent increase over the same period in 2004-2005. USCIS is on target to meet the administration’s goal of achieving a 6-month processing standard for all immigration benefit applications by Oct. 1, 2006. During fiscal year 2005, more than 600,000 new Americans were sworn-in as U.S. citizens in ceremonies around the nation. 
 
More information about this announcement is available at: http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/newsrels/July42006_061906PR.pdf
 
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UPCOMING EVENTS
July 3 – Chief of the Office of Citizenship Alfonso Aguilar delivers keynote remarks at a Naturalization Ceremony in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
 
July 4 – USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez delivers keynote remarks at a naturalization ceremony aboard the USS Constitution, Charlestown, Mass.
 
USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez delivers keynote remarks at a naturalization ceremony, Boston, Mass.
 
Chief of the Office of Citizenship Alfonso Aguilar delivers keynote remarks at a naturalization ceremony, Phoenix, Ariz.
 
July 5 – Chief of the Office of Citizenship Alfonso Aguilar delivers remarks at a naturalization ceremony, Las Vegas, Nev.
 
July 6 – USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez administers the Oath of Allegiance and will deliver congratulatory remarks at a naturalization ceremony aboard the USS Intrepid, New York, N.Y.
 
July 7 – Secretary Michael Chertoff participates in the U.S. Coast Guard Change of Command Ceremony at which Rear Admiral David P. Pekoske will be relieved by Rear Admiral Timothy S. Sullivan, Boston, Mass.
 
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threat level: yellow