Political Quotes

“I think the gentleman appropriately says ``our bill'' because it has been the input of so many Members, and the input they have derived by going back out to their respective congressional districts and meeting both locally, regionally, or county-wide with so many first responders. Ultimately, that is what this is all about. It is standing together as we face down terrorism, both in terms of homeland defense and in terms of our resolve as a people to stay together and address this issue. It is oftentimes, I think, missed on the general public when we are down here talking about lofty idealism and bills, and they are really anxious to help themselves; to go back to the gentleman's district, as he has done, and to seek the input of people who in many respects are more knowledgeable or have more pragmatic solutions in talking to a number of the people in my district. I know in our case that what we found is that the concern exists for the overlap, or perhaps the gaps; the term ``commonality of communication'' in terms of responding, and chains of command, whether they be bottom-up or top-down. The interoperability and mobility between local, State, county, and Federal agencies is something that is going to require more planning on our part; and also the identifying of those gaps. This cannot be a decision that is foisted upon local officials from the top down or by some think tank, however productive and good some of those ideas may be.”