By Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample, USA<br />American Forces Press Service<br /><br />WASHINGTON, March 21, 2003 -- Before testifying before the House<br />Subcommittee on Appropriations March 20, Homeland Security Secretary<br />Tom Ridge said, "our thoughts and prayers are with the men and women<br />overseas fighting in the latest front in the global war on terrorism to<br />protect all Americans and make the world a safer place."<br /><br />However, for Ridge, that "global war" extends to the United States. And<br />Thursday, the man, who for the past 18 months has headed one of the<br />largest government bureaucracies, visited Capital Hill to discuss the<br />part of President Bush's fiscal 2004 budget aimed at making people feel<br />safe here at home.<br /><br />Earlier this week, Ridge announced the implementation of Operation<br />Liberty Shield, a comprehensive national plan that combines city, state<br />and the private sector to thwart terrorist attacks in the United<br />States.<br /><br />A major player in that plan is the Coast Guard, which estimates it<br />needs $4 billion a year to protect U.S. commercial ports over the next<br />10 years. In recent weeks, the service has increased patrols and<br />monitoring of maritime activity along the nation's waterways.<br /><br />In the president's budget request, Ridge said, $6.8 billion has been<br />appropriated for the Coast Guard, a 10 percent increase over fiscal<br />2003. He said the funding would support "continued and enhanced<br />operations" across a "broad portfolio of absolutely indispensable<br />missions."<br /><br />He said the Coast Guard received what he believes to be the "largest<br />increase in a couple of decades" so the service can recruit about 2,000<br />people and acquire additional equipment needed for its expanded<br />homeland security responsibilities.<br /><br />"They are pretty talented, but they needed more people and they needed<br />to purchase more equipment. And through the deepwater acquisition, plus<br />a 10 percent increase, they move down that path to do both," he said.<br /><br />"It enables the Coast Guard to grow to meet its ever-increasing<br />security responsibilities while at the same time sustaining operational<br />excellence in nonsecurity functions," he testified.<br /><br />Among other budget requests is $18.1 billion for border and<br />transportation security; $3.5 billion to strengthen the readiness<br />capabilities of state and local governments; and $6 billion for the<br />Federal Emergency Management Agency for emergency preparedness and<br />response.<br /><br />In addition, Ridge said the president's budget calls for investment in<br />America's pharmaceutical and vaccine stockpiles to include $1 billion<br />for Project BioShield, a program to develop new and better drugs and<br />vaccines to protect Americans from the threat of bioterrorism.<br /><br />The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services will get $1.8<br />billion, including $500 million aimed at reducing the backlog of<br />applications, and ensuring a six-month process standard for all<br />applications.<br /><br />Ridge said the Department of Homeland Security supports the president's<br />national strategy for homeland defense and that his department has<br />"begun the first steps" in the critical work of protecting the nation.<br /><br />"While much has been accomplished, there is clearly much more work to<br />do," he said. "This budget will provide the resources to enable the<br />Department to manage its responsibilities and lead the effort to make<br />our country safer and more secure."