08.29.06

At National Tri-Cities Lab, Cantwell Promotes Technologies to Make America Safer

Cantwell pushes for additional homeland security funds following demonstration of ‘liquid bomb’ detection technology

RICHLAND, WA – Tuesday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) toured the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland for a first-hand look at homeland security technology under development here in Washington state, including technology to improve the detection of hazardous liquid substances during airport security screenings, and enhance rail and port security. To bolster the development of homeland security technologies, Cantwell is calling on Congress to provide additional funding for research and development efforts at places like PNNL.

“By turning to modern solutions inspired and developed by Pacific Northwest brainpower, we can secure our borders, our communities, and our transportation infrastructure,” said Cantwell. “Security solutions developed right here in our state can address the known vulnerabilities and close the security holes that continue to leave America vulnerable. We absolutely must maintain a strong federal investment in this indispensable research. This technology can save lives, secure our homeland, and prevent terrorism.”

In a letter sent Tuesday to leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Cantwell called for an increase in the funding dedicated to research and development initiatives through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In 2005, Congress provided $1.3 billion for Research and Development under the DHS Directorate on Science and Technology—the office charged with coordinating homeland security research and development. This year, the Homeland Security Appropriations bills passed by the Senate and House contain just $1.03 billion and $960 million for research and development, respectively. In her letter, Cantwell called on appropriations leaders to help undo these cuts.

Cutting-edge homeland security technologies under development at PNNL, supported by federal funding, and demonstrated during Cantwell’s tour of the facility Tuesday include an Acoustic Inspection Device with the ability to identify a wide variety of specific fluids and bulk solids, including hazardous substances and liquid bomb materials. The device can identify a liquid in three to four seconds, including 11 specific chemical warfare agents, and could be a vital tool in improving airport security screenings. PNNL has also worked with Customs and Border Protection to test a prototype system to scan rail cars for radioactive materials at U.S. points of entry, and developed Holographic Radar Imaging technology that can provide a 360 degree full body scan of an individual. This technology can identify non-metallic weapons and other materials that would go undetected by a metal detector.

[The text of Cantwell’s letter to appropriators follows below]

August 29, 2006

Dear Chairmen Gregg and Rodgers, and Ranking Members Byrd and Sabo:

As you move to conference negotiations on appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year 2007, I respectfully request that you restore funding for research and development (R&D) for the Department’s Directorate on Science and Technology (S&T) to the FY2006 level.

The foiled terrorist plot of August 10 in the U.K. provided a stark reminder of the serious gaps that continue to exist in our efforts to secure the commercial airline industry. Screening of cargo loaded on board civilian aircraft remains inadequate as is the patch-work of systems currently deployed to screen passengers for explosives and other bomb making materials. In 1995, we learned of the threat posed by our inability to screen passengers for chemicals that could be combined on board an aircraft to create an improvised explosive device when authorities in the Philippines discovered and prevented the “Bojinka” plot from materializing.

More than ten years later, we still have not developed technology that will allow us to prevent passengers from bringing liquid bomb components on board an aircraft without bringing security lines to a crawl. Yet, even with these shortcomings, funding for DHS to conduct critical R&D on counterterrorism technology including explosive detection and countermeasure technologies remains woefully inadequate.

DHS’ S&T Directorate plays an integral role in coordinating homeland security R&D and setting R&D goals within the federal government. Last year, Congress provided $1.3 billion for R&D under DHS’s Directorate on Science and Technology. Yet, this year, the Senate and House passed Homeland Security Appropriations bills contain just $1.03 billion and $960 million for R&D respectively.

I share the frustration expressed by Senate Appropriators by the lack of coordination, research goals, planning and prioritization that has plagued S&T in recent years and led to its inability to fully utilize past appropriations. S&T must improve on managing its portfolio and I support the five year research plan as called for in the Senate bill. Recently, the DHS S&T Directorate has come under the new leadership of Under Secretary Jay Cohen—and just last week, issued a new solicitation for breakthrough technologies that will improve detection of explosives and flammable liquids, including bottle screening devices at passenger checkpoints. I am hopeful that this solicitation will help accelerate the development and potential commercialization of promising technologies already under development at research institutions including Washington state’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

As recent events have demonstrated, research and development on the detection of conventional explosives is desperately needed to develop the technologies vital to confront continually evolving terrorist threats and security vulnerabilities. Combined with aggressive Congressional oversight and cooperation with Under Secretary Cohen, it is imperative that Congress maintain a strong investment in S&T and restore its funding to the FY2006 level.

I thank you for your consideration of this important request and look forward to continuing to work with you as we seek ways to bolster the security of our nation.

Sincerely,

Maria Cantwell
United States Senator

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