C. W. Bill Young: “There is no question, as we watched on television as the recovery and the first response in New York City and at the…”

“There is no question, as we watched on television as the recovery and the first response in New York City and at the Pentagon unfolded before our very eyes, we saw the importance of the first responders in not only protecting property, but especially saving lives. So I would have to tell the gentleman we are still in the process of figuring out the best division of responsibility among the various agencies for providing assistance to first responders, which we are going to do. There is no question about that. I agree with the gentleman from Michigan that we have to involve those agencies with responsibility for assisting firefighters and EMS personnel to help assure that they are prepared. I can assure the gentleman that the Committee on Appropriations will continue to work to make sure it takes into account the needs of firefighters and EMS personnel, as well as law enforcement officers, when it considers how to distribute the supplemental funding in this bill and in the fiscal year 2003 appropriations bill.”