The National Resilience Development Act and the War on Terror Opening up the Third Front

The Three Fronts in the War on Terror 1. Terrorists 2. Terrorist Acts 3. Terrorism

Defining “Terrorism” 1. Terrorist: One who threatens or performs acts that promote terrorism. 2. Terrorist Act: Action, or vector, by which terrorists create terrorism. 3. Terrorism: The use of horror to attain one’s goals or to advance one’s cause.

Examples of Terrorists Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda Hamas Hamas Timothy McVeigh Timothy McVeigh

Coordinated Government Interventions to Fight Terrorists Military interventions. Military interventions. Increased intelligence capacity. Increased intelligence capacity. Unprecedented cooperation with foreign intelligence services. Unprecedented cooperation with foreign intelligence services.

Examples of Terrorist Acts Conventional Conventional Biological Biological Chemical Chemical Radiological Radiological

Coordinated Government Interventions to Fight Terrorist Acts Increased security at airports and borders. Increased security at airports and borders. Smallpox vaccines and vaccinations. Smallpox vaccines and vaccinations. Decontamination showers. Decontamination showers. Radiation detectors. Radiation detectors.

Examples of Terrorism Fear Fear Anxiety Anxiety Panic Panic Dread Dread Confusion Confusion Intimidation Pessimism Uncertainty Sadness Demoralization

Coordinated Government Intervention to Fight Terrorism The National Resilience Development Act of 2003

Terrorism is Intended to Sow Fear and Change Behaviors  March 1995: After a sarin gas attack in Tokyo, 80% of those who visited the emergency room had no exposure to the gas  October 2001: Capitol Hill staffers and DC residents overwhelmed local emergency rooms despite public health officials pleas to use available anthrax screening sites  February 2003: Homeland Security warning prompts runs on duct tape and plastic sheeting

“The purpose of terrorism is not the single act of wanton destruction, it is the reaction it seeks to provoke: economic collapse, the backlash, the hatred, the division, the elimination of tolerance, until societies cease to reconcile their differences and become defined by them.” - Prime Minister Tony Blair Address to Congress, July 17, 2003 Address to Congress, July 17, 2003

The National Resilience Development Act Combats Terrorism Interagency Task Force Consultation and Guidance Funding for States Accountability Development and Integration of Strategies

Interagency Task Force  The NRDA establishes an interagency task force on national resilience within the Department of Health and Human Services  Comprised of representatives from the following agencies: -Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -The National Institute of Mental Health - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration -The Health Resources and Services Administration -The Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness - The Office of the Surgeon General

Development and Integration of Strategies  The interagency task force will be responsible for researching and developing resilience-building programs and protocols  These programs and protocols will be integrated into the efforts of the Department of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security as they relate to threats or acts of terror, particularly those involving weapons of mass destruction

Consultation and Guidance  The interagency task force will consult with, and give guidance to individual States and localities to assist them in further developing their emergency preparedness plans for responding to the extensive psychological consequences of terrorism  The task force will work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to integrate considerations of psychosocial and behavioral responses into preparedness, communications, and response plans.

Funding for the States Requires that at minimum, 1% of bioterrorism preparedness grants awarded to States through Public Health Services Act and 1% of terrorism preparedness grants under the USA Patriot Act be used by the States to prepare for, and respond to, the psychosocial consequences of terrorism

Accountability Requires annual reports to Congress by the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security on their Departments’ efforts to implement the recommendations made by the interagency task force

NRDA Endorsements Include:  America’s Health Together  American Psychological Society  American Public Health Association  Families of September 11  National Center for Victims of Crime

“ One of my goals as chair of the commission is to provide recommendations regarding how we can better protect the American people. Protection is security. It is safer airports and harbors. It is topnotch personnel and cutting edge technology, but it is also psychological hardiness and confidence that we are resilient. This legislation will help Americans in a deep and meaningful way and I am pleased to give it my endorsement.” -Tom Kean, Former Governor of New Jersey Chair, September 11 Commission