JOHN E.

SWEENEY RURAL HEALTH CARE COALITION

^ DISTRICT, NEW YORK OLDER AMERICANS CAUCUS
NORTHEAST AGRICULTURE CAUCUS
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN'S CAUCUS
SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELAND SECURITY CONGRESSIONAL HORSE CAUCUS
COMMITTEE ON IRISH AFFAIRS

Congress of ti)e ttntteb .****

of
, BC 20515-3220

July 6, 2004

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

3017th Street, SW
Room 5125
Washington, D.C. 20407

Dear Commissioner Members,

Thank you for your dedication to answering lingering questions surrounding the terrorist attacks
of September 11, 2001, and helping providing a full account of the preparedness for and the
immediate response to the attacks, as well as recommendations to guard against future attacks.

I have had concerns, as have many of my colleagues, your work has become politicized. The
Commission must avoid any perception of partisanship in order to be viewed as credible by the
American people. For this reason, I urge you to focus on how we can make our nation safer
instead of assigning blame and finger pointing. That is the only way America can move forward
from this terrible tragedy.

On that note, there is one particular aspect of the homeland security debate that the Commission
can serve a noble purpose: the funding of our nation's first responders.

As you know, the Bush administration and Secretary Ridge in testimony before the Commission
have voiced support for allocating homeland security resources based on risk. A growing
consensus is emerging among experts, executive branch officials, first responders and many
members of Congress that state-of-the-art risk assessments should be based on independent
analysis of threat. The tenets of this methodology may be monitored to assure taxpayers that
funds spent on homeland security are being used to increase productivity.

Currently, there is a perception among some that resources devoted to Homeland Security to be
similar to funds spent to support other government agencies. As a Member from upstate New
York representing a Congressional district that is the 32nd most rural in the country, I have
limited parochial interest in increasing security for metropolitan areas. However, as a member of
both the House Appropriations subcommittee on Homeland Security and the House Select
Committee on Homeland Security, and as one who lived through the aftermath of the attacks on
9/11,1 know homeland security funds must be spent efficiently.

416 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING 939 ROUTE 146 SENATOR CHARLES D. COOK OFFICE BUILDING 21 BAY STREET 7578 NORTH BROADWAY
WASHINGTON, DC 20515 SUITE 430 111 MAIN STREET GLENS FALLS, NY 12801 REDHOOK, NY 12571
202-226-5614 CLIFTON PARK, NY 12065 DELHI, NY 13753 518-792-3031 845-758-1222
518-371-8839 607-746-9700
First responder funds must be spent based on threat to protect critical infrastructure and
agriculture or in high threat urban areas. The economic impact in a rural area may be as much or
more affected if there is another major terrorist attack in a metropolitan area.

The risk-based funding approach has been extensively debated in Congress and endorsed by
several Committees in the current version of H.R.3266, The Faster and Smarter Funding for First
Responders Act of 2004. I have approved funding for all states and territories separate from risk
to those localities in order to ensure minimum standards of protection are being put into place.

Despite pubic controversy that has hurt the Commission at times, there remains a great deal of
credibility with the American people, and thus with the Congress. The Commission is presented
with a golden opportunity to have a strong impact on current and future policy by making a
robust statement to support a risk-based funding strategy. I look forward to reading the final
Commission report and appreciate your consideration of my genuine request to ensure
preparedness against any future attacks.

Sincerel

E. Sweene
,ber of Co: