NTS gets funds for anti-terrorism training

Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004 | 9:44 a.m.

The Senate has again set aside money for the Nevada Test Site to continue in its newfound role as a training ground for terrorist-attack first responders.

Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and John Ensign, R-Nev., helped secure $20 million for the Test Site training in the Homeland Security spending bill, passed Tuesday in the Senate. Congress approved $20 million for the same purpose last year.

The Test Site's remote location and infrastructure make it a perfect place for counter-terrorism programs, Nevada lawmakers argue. Since the Sept. 11 attacks, lawmakers from around the country have lobbied for money for their own home-state counter-terrorism training programs.

The Test Site has emerged as one of the nation's leading training centers for police, firefighters and other emergencies workers, Reid said.

The House Aviation Subcommittee also approved on Wednesday legislation introduced by Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., to create an undersecretary for local government and tourism within the Homeland Security Department. The panel approved Porter's bill as part of a larger package of legislation aimed at implementing recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

Porter says tourism-dependent cities like Las Vegas need a sympathetic ear within the Homeland Security Department.

Congressional leaders have said they want to pass legislation in response to the 9/11 Commission as soon as possible, possibly within the next few weeks. The Senate has not considered Porter's legislation.