OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act

Date: May 12, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: National Security Health and Health Care


FASTER AND SMARTER FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS ACT -- (House of Representatives - May 12, 2005)

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Mr. McCAUL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I would like to also thank the gentleman from California (Chairman Cox) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), the ranking member, for their bipartisan leadership on this very important legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act, and I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill.

Among its provisions, this historic legislation changes the current process by which our first responders get their much-needed resources.

It is clear that the Nation is moving in the right direction in its attempt to meet the security challenges of its post-9/11 world. All involved should be commended.

However, the current first responder grant system is in need of repair. We must make sure that those who stand on the front lines and answer the call have the vital resources immediately. This commonsense bill accomplishes this.

Despite the fact that my State of Texas is home to the President's ranch, the largest port in the United States, the Port of Houston, and has an international border with Mexico, it ranks dead last in the amount of Homeland Security money it receives per person.

Unfortunately, many other key target states like California, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, and Virginia, join Texas in this distinction.

To ensure that the States with the biggest risks and threats get the necessary money to protect themselves, our Nation must move towards a risk-based funding system.

Those like al Qaeda, who wish to do harm to America, have a track record of being patient and conspiring until they succeed in their terrorist agenda. By passing the Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act, we are placing a priority on securing our Nation's most essential and at-risk targets as quickly as possible.

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