University President Kenneth Zirkle had requested the additional funding last year in testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

According to a written statement issued Friday by U.S. Rep. Michael Oxley, the grant money is included in the fiscal year 2003 budget bill passed by Congress this week. The only formality left is President Bush's signature on the bill.

"At a time when our country is on high alert, the importance of what the University of Findlay is doing couldn't be any clearer," Oxley said. "This is the front line of our homeland defense."

Both Oxley and U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine helped the university secure the funding.

In mid-March of 2002, Zirkle spoke to the Senate committee as it was holding hearings on the proposed First Responder Initiative in President Bush's fiscal year 2003 budget request.

Committee Chairman James Jeffords of Vermont invited the university to speak, and it was the only non-government entity at the hearing.

Randy Van Dyne of the Center for Terrorism Preparedness accompanied Zirkle to Washington and assisted him during a question and answer period.

UF is one of the leading schools in the United States when it comes to training first responders. It began that teaching in 1986 with its environmental management program, focusing on handling biohazards.

The Center for Terrorism Preparedness was established in 1999. It provides education, training and information services to the public health and medical community, city and county officials, and corporate safety and security personnel.

Last year it was designated as one of only 14 Centers for Public Health Preparedness for Bioterrorism and Emerging Health Threats by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Eric Qualkenbush is the center's director.

The $1.5 million grant funding will be administered by the CDC, and will be used for program support, training activity costs and staffing.

The funds will complement the university's ongoing efforts to build a high-tech ALERT Center, which would allow first responders to train under conditions that simulate actual emergencies.

The Courier, 2/15/2003