Providing for America's security requires focused and strategic coordination among all levels of government, the private sector and nongovernmental organizations to meet rapidly evolving and ever more complex threats. Governors recognize the critical role states play in providing for the safety and security of citizens and protecting critical infrastructure and key resources against attack. Governors continue to lead state efforts to develop and maintain core capabilities to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies within or across their borders. This commitment includes the establishment of intrastate and interstate working groups, which are successfully identifying critical needs and building capabilities. Governors maintain and continually update detailed homeland security strategies that are submitted to the federal government to help ensure adequate levels of preparedness, assess capabilities and inform grants investment and management.

Letters

• December 17, 2009
  December 17, 2009 letter (from Governor O'Malley and Governor Pawlenty) to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman and Ranking Member Susan Collins expressing gratitude for their leadership in helping the United States protect against and prepare for the threat of terrorist attacks utilizing weapons of mass destruction (WMD) through the WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2009, which would strengthen federal, state, and local emergency response capabilities.

• November 3, 2009
  November 3, 2009 letter (from the "Big Seven" organizations representing state and local government elected officials) to Secretary Janet Napolitano urging the Department of Homeland Security to reconsider its recent policy announcement restricting the use of preparedness grant funding for the sustainment of critical homeland security and emergency management capabilities.

• October 19, 2009
  October 19, 2009 letter (from Governor O'Malley and Governor Gibbons) to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano urging the Department of Homeland Security to revise its policy regarding the use of preparedness grant funding to allow for the sustainment of critical homeland security and emergency management capabilities.

• October 5, 2009
  October 5, 2009 letter (from Governor O'Malley and Governor Gibbons) to Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller and Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison expressing thanks for their leadership in efforts to extend the statutory deadline for the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program to September 30, 2012. (Identical letter sent to U.S. Representative Jane Harman, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and Ranking Member Joe Barton).

• May 14, 2009
  May 14, 2009 letter to Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller and Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison urging Congress to extend until September 30, 2012 the statutory deadline for the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program. (Identical copies sent to leadership for the following committees: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Senate Appropriations, House Energy and Commerce, House Homeland Security and House Appropriations.)