George Washinton University Medical Center
 
2006 Initiatives

Policy/Research and External Collaborations:

During the first half of 2006, HSPI has been actively engaged in the policy development of vital homeland security initiatives including port and chemical plant security, as well as developing administrative and statutory reform required following Hurricane Katrina.

Issues

Emergency response and preparedness

  • On March 8, Frank Cilluffo testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee at its final hearing on the response to Hurricane Katrina. The purpose of the hearing was to solicit forward looking recommendations for the Committee to consider including in its final report, released in April 2006.
  • Building upon recommendations presented to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, GW HSPI co-authored a paper with the Heritage Foundation, entitled: “Empowering America: A Proposal for Enhancing Regional Preparedness." GW HSPI is currently writing a follow-on report that will further amplify the potential role of regional DHS (and other federal agencies) offices in response. HSPI and Heritage advanced the discussion of the need for regionalization at the National Defense Industrial Association’s Homeland Security Symposium on March 30th, where Jan Lane participated in a discussion on gaps in homeland security.
  • HSPI Director Cilluffo testified before the U.S. Commission on the National Guard and Reserves on May 4. He discussed the need to reform the national guard to better respond to domestic response and homeland defense needs.
  • HSPI convened a panel of experts to discuss the White House “Lessons Learned” report on Hurricane Katrina on February 24. Panelists included James Jay Carafano, Senior Research Fellow, Heritage Foundation; Bruce Lawlor, Former Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Dan Prieto, Director, Homeland Security Center, The Reform Institute and Fellow, Belfer Center, Harvard University; Judge William Sessions, Former FBI Director and HSPI Steering Committee Member.

Chemical Industry Security and Critical Infrastructure Protection

  • Chemical Security and Regulation: On March 21st HSPI and the American Chemistry Council co-hosted Secretary Michael Chertoff’s policy speech regarding the need for increased regulation of the chemicals industry. Following the speech, a panel of congressional, industry and policy experts outlined the issues involved and discussed legislation pending in both houses of Congress.

Port Security

  • HSPI hosted a closed door briefing on March 7 with House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter T. King (R-NY) to hear about the Committee’s priorities for the current legislative year. The forum was timely given the congressional and media focus on port security triggered by the Dubai Ports World issue.
  • HSPI was chosen by House Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman Dan Lungren (R-CA) and Representative Jane Harman (D-CA) as the forum for a discussion of the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act (H.R. 4954) on April 7.

Border Security and International Issues

  • On April 18, HSPI and the Canadian American Business Council co-hosted a Border Security Dialog, with special guest, Honorable Stockwell Day, Canadian Minister of Public Safety at the Canadian Embassy.
  • Co-hosted an Ambassador’s Forum on “International Cooperation in Combating Terrorism” with the International Center for Terrorism Studies at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies on April 26.

Appointments

  • HSPI announced the appointment of five new members to its Steering Committee, including: Ambassadors Nathanial Howell and Richard Swett (former Congressman), former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese, former U.S. Congressman Jim Turner and former AOL founder George Vradenburg.
  • HSPI named its 2006 Class of HSPI Senior Fellows—31 experts in a range of homeland security and emergency response issues. A reception was held in conjunction with the roundtable with Chairman Peter King.

Grants, Training and Education

  • National Emergency Medical Services Preparedness Initiative (NEMSPI): A $4.7 million grant through DHS’ FY2005 Competitive Training Grant Program, NEMSPI has two major components:
    • Development of a web-based training course delivered as a high-end, highly-engaging video game (rather than didactic presentation of content) for EMS providers. Learning is focused on four key target capabilities (CBRNE Detection, Triage and Pre-Hospital Treatment, Information Collection and Threat Recognition, and Information Sharing and Collaboration) EMS providers are used to active learning versus passive observers of information. NEMSPI builds on this unique strength and promises to be one of the most innovative web-based courses to emerge from DHS. Progress to date includes: game scenarios and corresponding detailed EMS content have been developed for Biological, Chemical, Radiological/Nuclear, and Explosive events, floods and earthquakes.
    • EMS preparedness policy development: In March the first EMS Steering Committee met to begin the framing of EMS policy issues and the construct of the EMS Policy Summit to be held in October 2006.
  • The National Nurse Emergency Preparedness Initiative (NNEPI): NNEPI involves the following activities: (1) Development of an online course for nurses on CBRNE preparedness and response, with an emphasis on caring for special needs/ vulnerable populations; (2) Web-based resources for nurses (www.nnepi.org); (3) Inventory of learning objects and assets contained within DHS-funded web-based courses; (4) Focus group research with nurses regarding training needs related to emergency preparedness; and (5) NNEPI Policy Summit.
  • ICSC-GWU CBRNE Customized Terrorism Awareness Level Training Intiative: A $1.8 million contract from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) to develop and manage a terrorism awareness level training program for shopping center security officers is completing the curriculum customization phase. The intitiative seeks to train up to 20,000 security officers from across the country in comprehensive terrorism deterrence, prevention and response to the range of possible threats.
   
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