Mitch Landrieu: “I would like to talk to the Senator about the $80 million in interoperable communications funding in the Department of…”

“I would like to talk to the Senator about the $80 million in interoperable communications funding in the Department of Justice title of the bill. In the District of Columbia Subcommittee we have held hearings on the emergency preparedness needs for Washington, DC. During 9-11, District fire and police personnel had to have the ability to communicate with multiple jurisdictions that responded to the Pentagon. So interoperability is crucial for public safety officials. The funding in the bill would be administered by the COPS program at the Department of Justice. You have been a leader in the Senate in your support of that program. COPS grants require a 25 percent local match for its grants. The COPS program does allow for a full or partial waiver of the local match for communities that are facing severe fiscal distress. Communities can qualify for a waiver in a wide variety of ways. Some qualify because they have been declared a FEMA disaster area or have been placed in receivership or bankruptcy. Communities can also get a waiver if they have had a recent large, one-time financial expense, like replacing a water treatment facility. The COPS program will also grant waivers to communities that had to make across-the-board budget cuts as a result of difficult economic circumstances.”