Rep. Courtney Slams President's Proposed Cuts to First Responders
Rep. Courtney Slams President's Proposed Cuts to First Responders
Congressman Joe Courtney expressed his grave concern and disappointment in response to President Bush's proposed Fiscal Year 2008 Homeland Security budget.
"I strongly oppose the President's continued support of his inappropriate $2 trillion tax cut for America's wealthiest families at the expense of eastern Connecticut's first responders and the safety of working families," stated Courtney. "I will exert every effort to restore these crucial funds so that our emergency workers may continue to provide the vital service they perform each and every day in our communities."
The President seeks to cut the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program by 55 percent from $662 million in FY 2007 to $300 million in FY 2008. This program has become an important source of additional funding supporting eastern Connecticut's local fire and emergency departments.
Some of the largest cuts occur to grant programs that provide grant funding to local law enforcement agencies. The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) will see a cut of 94 percent should the President's budget be enacted. In FY 2007 the COPS program received $542 million but is now slated to receive approximately $32 million in the President's plan. The COPS program provides grants to assist local law enforcement hire and train new offices and to improve retention rates.
The Port of New London may also fall victim to the President's budget if enacted. The Administration seeks to freeze port security grants at the FY 2007 level of $210 million. Furthermore, the President seeks to freeze rail and transit security grants at the FY 2007 level of $175 million.
The President's misguided budget also proposes to cut the State Homeland Security Grant Program by 52 percent from $525 million in FY 2007 to $250 million in FY 2008. This important program assists first responders to prevent, prepare and respond to acts of terrorism or other emergencies.
http://courtney.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=59151