Graves Votes to Speed First Responder Funding

Graves Votes to Speed First Responder Funding
Thursday, May 12, 2005

Bill Paves Way for Local First Responders to Receive Money Faster

(Washington, D.C) U.S. Congressman Sam Graves voted with the House of Representatives today in passing H.R. 1544, The Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 2005. The bill will help speed the process of getting federal money to local first responders.

"We have to make sure that our local first responders are prepared to handle any threat that they encounter," said Graves. "By streamlining the process we can help our first responders get the equipment they need now."

Under the bill first responders would begin planning how to spend their funds before they receive them. Eliminating the delay between receiving funds and using them will get equipment into the right hands quicker. States would then make grant awards to first responders within 45 days.

A study done for Missouri Governor Matt Blunt shows that there is a significant backlog in spending money that has been awarded to the State. Since 2002, Homeland Security has awarded $135 million in grants to Missouri. As of March 31, only $49 million or 36% of that allotment has been spent.

"We have provided first responders with money that they need and they aren't getting it," said Graves. "This bill is the first step in getting them the funding they need."

The bill also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop standards for first responder equipment and training. It is endorsed by 20 First Responder and Law Enforcement organizations including the National Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Fire Fighters.

http://www.house.gov/graves/newsroom/051205.htm