Safety Act Red Tape Wins The First Round: Applications 19 -- Approvals 0

After acknowledging that the Homeland Security Department (DHS) expected 1,000 SAFETY Act applications, the Acting SAFETY Act Director (Wendy Howe) announced at a May 11th conference that the agency had received 83 pre-applications and 19 full applications, of which 8 applications are now being presented to the Assistant Secretary for review. With no SAFETY Act applications yet being approved by DHS, chairmen of three Congressional committees have complained to Secretary Ridge about "lengthy and burdensome bureaucratic obstacles" and "administrative red tape" that have choked the application process and delayed the introduction of critical anti-terrorism technology.