June 9, 2007                                                                                                                                   

News Release
Congressman Joe Sestak Speaks at Emergency Preparedness Fair 

Broomall, PA — Today, Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) spoke at an Emergency Preparedness Fair.  The Fair – the Eagle Scout project of Dan Ebeling – brought together the various local centers of preparedness excellence, from first responders to National Guard representatives in order to discuss training and readiness preparedness.   Joe spoke about the advancements taken since he was a young child and underwent school training at St. Francis of Assisi in Springfield for the possibility of a nuclear exchange during the Cold War.  Joe emphasized three core elements of an emergency preparedness Strategy:

·        Supplies…ensuring a stockpile of the basic survival requirements.

·        An emergency plan…of what to do in an emergency.

·        Stay informed…which educational efforts such as today’s Fair helps to do.

“Ensuring that our state, our communities, and our families are prepared to handle any disaster is essential,” said Congressman Sestak.  “Our region must be prepared for a host of potential emergencies, from natural disasters to terrorist attacks.  We must all work together, federal, state, and local officials, to effectively plan and manage these crises.” 

Today’s fair, which was sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Broomall, was a way to educate the community about the need to prepare for emergencies. At the fair, Congressman Sestak discussed the need to strengthen the partnership between local, state, and federal authorities in responding to emergencies; increase and sustain needed emergency funding; improve communication between first responders; and educate the public about readying for potential threats.

Moreover, Joe underscored the heightened requirement of Homeland Defense since 9/11.  He outlined the transportation and economic infrastructure hub of the Philadelphia region, with a population of 5.7 million:  the Delaware River and I-95 with key bridges and SEPTA – the Northeast Region Coordinator for Amtrak – and critical rail lines, as well as chemical plants and oil refineries.  These factors have led the Insurance Services Office, which assesses risk for the insurance industry, to conclude Philadelphia is among the ten cities most vulnerable to a terrorist attack…and therefore much needs to be done, from stockpiling food to emergency communications.

Joe also spoke about Marcus Hook and the fifth largest refinery in the northeast, capable of processing 175,000 barrels a day, as well as the Sunoco oil refinery in Philadelphia, which sores hundreds of thousands of po9inds of hydrogen fluoride, an extremely toxic chemical to make high-octane fuels.  This is why Joe has not only met with various first responders in the District, including Marcus Hook, but also toured their facilities and equipment.

Congressman Sestak has also supported a number of measures that are designed to improve our emergency preparedness response and to make our communities more secure from both natural disasters but also from terrorist attacks:

• 9/11 Commission Recommendations: The very first bill – H.R. 1 – the Congressman voted on this January, mandates the implementation of the preparedness recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, which received 19 Fs, Ds, or incompletes when the Commission reviewed their implementation last year.  In addition, Joe voted to add over $1Billion to support their implementation.

• Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007: Will improve the security of railroads, public transportation, and over-the-road buses in the United States.

• COPS Improvements Act of 2007: Will put 50,000 additional police officers on the streets over the next six years, and provides funds for COPS technology grants and for hiring community prosecutors.

• Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008: Keeps America safe by increasing funding for homeland security supporting first responders, increasing contractor accountability, and strengthening and streamlining the Department of Homeland Security.

“While I will continue to work hard in Congress to ensure the Federal, state, and local governments are prepared to handle any kind of emergency,” added Congressman Sestak. “I encourage everyone to sit down with their families to prepare also, by having an emergency supply kit and family communications plan, which can make all the difference.”

Born and raised in Delaware County, former 3-star Admiral Joe Sestak served in the Navy for 31 years and now serves as the Representative from the 7th District of Pennsylvania. He led a series of operational commands at sea, including Commander of an aircraft carrier battle group of 30 U.S. and allied ships with over 15,000 sailors and 100 aircraft that conducted operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. After 9/11, Joe was the first Director of "DeepBlue," the Navy's anti-terrorism unit that established strategic and operations policies for the "Global War on Terrorism." He served as President Clinton's Director for Defense Policy at the National Security Council in the White House, and holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University.  According to the office of the House Historian, Joe is the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to Congress.