The Curious Case of Sean King and Homeland Security Contracts Part 3

Alaska Structures Homeland Security Contracts

Alaska Structures paid Park Strategies $240,000 in 2005 to lobby Congress.

[Park Strategies]new client is Alaska Structures, which manufactures high-tech tents used by the military in Iraq. The company, which was run out of a van near Anchorage in the 1970s, recently won a military contract worth $120 million." (The New York Post, D'amato Rakes In Spoils Of War Biz, March 27, 2006)

"The former senator's firm [Park Strategies] received several large loobying [sic] payments from firms looking for anti-terror contracts from the government for homeland security or the war in Iraq. For instance, he was paid $240,000 by Alaska Structures, which provides tents to the military, and signed on as a lobbyist for defense contractor Lockheed Martin." (Newsday, Amato spreading the News Corp., May 30, 2006)

Alaska Industrial Resources manufactures portable, modular, fabric structures. Alaska Structures and Blue-Med Response Systems are both subsidiaries of Alaska Industrial Resources. Alaska Structures manufactures modular fabric buildings for a multitude of purposes. (Alaska Structures Web Site, http://www.alaskastructures.com)

Blue-Med manufactures modular, fabric medical facilities. According to their web site:

“BLU-MED Response Systems' state-of-the-art, climate-controlled fabric structures have become the shelter of choice for meeting medical and management needs of the US military in extreme conditions around the world. Now ready for the homeland, BLU-MED portable facilities can be rapidly deployed to the scene of a disaster or WMD event to support medical and emergency management services." (Alaska Structures Web Site, http://www.alaskastructures.com/products_government_mobile.html)
Blu-Med Tried to Meet With FEMA During Hurricane Katrina

The day Hurricane Katrina made landfall, FEMA director Mike Brown received an email from a former lawmaker-turned lobbyist Sen. Tim Hutchinson, R-Ark, asking if he could set up a meeting between Brown and Blu-Med President Gerritt Boyle. The documents do not indicate that Mike Brown responded to Hutchinson's request. Hutchinson's email said,

"I apologize for bothering you at this critical time and for going directly to you about this... I would yery (sic) much appreciate being able to bring the President of Blu-Med Response Systems, Gerritt Boyle, in to meet with you as soon as your schedule permits." (Associated Press Online, E-Mails Show Brown Disputed Levee Breach May 10, 2006)
King Had Oversight Over Homeland Security Dept. Spending / Procurement - Alaska Structure Received Two FEMA Contracts Worth over $1 Million During Hurricanes Rita and Katrina

Alaska Structures was awarded one contract for $487,467 and another for $603,570 after Hurricane Rita and Katrina. (Order Number: HHSP233200500508G) FEMA assigned responsibility for relief operations in the area of public health and medical services to the Department of Health and Human Services. While an audit by the Office of Inspector General of DHHS concluded that federal officials complied with Federal acquisition requirements, it did not review contract performance or the acceptance and inspection of goods and services received. (DHHS, Office of Inspector General Report, Emergency Response To hurricanes Katrina And Rita: Audit Of Program Support center’s Procurement Process For Contract Action Hhsp233200500508g With Alaska Structures, Inc., June 2006)
Blu-Med President Instrumental in Establishing 4 Regional Stockpiles of Emergency Disaster Medical Facilities Worth $20M

“Recently, Mr. Boyle has been instrumental in developing an "on call" response capability offered by BLU-MED, along wit [sic] establishing 4 regional stockpiles across the country with (10) 50-bed Disaster Medical Facilities and enough emergency shelters to house up to 10,000 persons, at an approximate value of $20M." (Blu-Med Website, Biography of President Gerrit Boyle, http://www.blu-med.com/team.html)

Alaska Structures Received $2 Million Contract in FY 2007 Defense Appropriation Act

“The bills, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act for FY2007 and the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for FY2007 will go to the President for his expected signature. The FY 2007 Defense Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5631), includes the following provisions requested by and fought for by Senator Salazar: million for Combat Support Hospital tents, to be produced by Alaska Structures in Delta, CO, which provide state-of-the-art field medical hospitals." (US Fed News, SEN. SALAZAR TO VOTE FOR SECURE BORDERS, IMPROVED HOMELAND SECURITY, NATION'S MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, September 29, 2006)
Alaska Structures Had $52.5 Million in Gov’t Contracts in FY2003

According to a federal procurement report for FY 2003, Alaska contracts secured over $52.5 million dollars in government contracts. (Federal Procurement Report FY 2003, http://www.fpdsng.com/fpr_reports_fy_03.html)
Alaska Structures Claimed To Be Largest Supplier of Portable Shelters to US Military

Alaska Structures claimed it has provided 30,000 portable shelters to soldiers, researchers and various businesses in 40 countries since the 1970's. They also claim they are the largest supplier of shelter systems for the United States military and that they have garnered top scores from the military for two years in a row. The company has eight offices in the U.S. and one in Europe. (Alaska Journal of Commerce, Alaska shelter company began in a Volkswagen van, November 14, 2004)

Peter King Hypocritical Statements on Homeland Security Spending

Peter King Said He Didn't Believe in Pork Barrel Politics Regarding Homeland Security Money

Prior to becoming the House Homeland Security Chairman, King said he didn't believe that homeland security should be used for pork barrel spending.

"A lot of guys on both sides of the aisle only care about getting money for their districts," complains Republican representative Peter King, whose Long Island constituents include thousands of daily commuters to New York City. "I come from Nassau County, I worked with Alfonse D'Amato, I understand pork-barrel spending," he says. "But this shouldn't be the case when it comes to homeland security." (National Review, Introducing Pork-Barrel Homeland Security: A little here, a lot there, August 11, 2003)

Peter King Secured $2 million dollars for North Shore/LIJ to Strengthen Emergency Preparedness

After becoming Homeland Security chairman, Peter King had few qualms about using his influence to secure homeland security funding for Long Island.

“The defense authorization bill signed recently by President Bush includes $2 million for the North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System to further strengthen the public health infrastructure needed for the mass casualties that could result from a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency. The grant, made possible by U.S. Rep. Peter King, R-Massapequa, will enable North Shore-LIJ to expand emergency preparedness training it has already provided to more than 4,000 first responders, and better prepare physicians to identify and treat illnesses that may be linked to bioterrorism. In addition, funds will be used to develop a back-up communications system that will preserve emergency services in the event of large-scale power, telephone and satellite outages. “Congressman King has been a long-time supporter of North Shore-'s emergency preparedness efforts, both before and after Sept. 11, 2001," said Michael J. Dowling, president and CEO of the North Shore-LIJ Health System. "This grant will strengthen and extend North Shore-'s intensive emergency resources, which are available to healthcare facilities throughout the New York area." (North Shore / LIJ Press Release, http://www.northshorelij.com/body.cfm?id=204&actionfiltered=detail&ref=646)