FederalDaily - August 17, 2007
IG: FEMA Should Improve Post-Disaster Data Sharing
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should streamline its information sharing and provide
law enforcement agencies with greater access to public safety files to aid in post-disaster responses,
said a new report by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG). The IG looked
at FEMA’s data-sharing response after the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes and found it to be inadequate
in helping law enforcement to locate missing children, registered sex offenders and fugitive felons.
Following Hurricane Katrina, for example, about 5,000 children and more than 2,000 sex offenders and
fugitive felons were reported missing. Law enforcement agencies had to go through a time-consuming
process to gain access to FEMA’s disaster recovery assistance files because FEMA was concerned
over privacy concerns, said the recently released report. The IG recommended that FEMA develop agreements
with the Department of Justice to allow law enforcement officials to have direct access to information
for a wider range of security reasons—including determining the whereabouts of sex offenders
and fugitive felons. To see more, go to: www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_07-60_Jul07.pdf
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New TRICARE Reserve Select Plan Launches Oct. 1
Military reservists and National Guard members enrolled in the TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) health
plan can transfer to a new simplified program that will replace it on Oct. 1. The new plan is designed
to streamline the current TRS Select benefit and make it available to more reservists and their families,
Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, deputy director of the TRICARE Management Activity, said in an Aug. 13
statement. Changes include elimination of the complicated three-tier TRS system. Under the new TRS,
all enrollees will pay the same monthly premium—$81 for individuals and $253 for family coverage.
TRS offers coverage comparable to TRICARE Standard and Extra. The revamped TRS also includes expanded
survivor coverage and continuously open enrollment. The new TRS will have only two reservist enrollee
qualifications: the member must be a Selected Reserve member of the Ready Reserve; and the member must
not be eligible for the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program or be currently covered under
FEHB. Current TRS participants must reenroll for their coverage to continue after Sept. 30. To see
more, go to: www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=307
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Army Unveils First Hybrid-Electric Combat Propulsion System
The Army on Aug. 15 unveiled its first hybrid-electric propulsion system for a new fleet of Manned
Ground Vehicles (MGVs) intended to take soldiers into combat in future wars. The Army is developing
and testing eight new MGV variants as part of its Future Combat Systems (FCS), the Army’s principal
modernization program. Hybrid-electric vehicles—which are powered by a combination of gasoline/diesel
and electric engines—have a rechargeable energy storage system that satisfies the need for larger
amounts of electrical power required by FCS Brigade Combat Teams. They also have better fuel economy.
The Army’s current non-combat line of hybrid-electric vehicles already is significantly more
robust and more powerful than commercial hybrid vehicles, the Army said in a statement. “The
MGV drive train is unique,” said Col. Bryan McVeigh, product manager for MGV systems integration. “This
is a new and better way of moving across the battlefield.” To see more, go to: www.army.mil/-newsreleases/2007/08/15/4424-army-unveils-first-hybrid-electric-propulsion-system-for-new-combat-vehicles
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