Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York, Congressman Higgins. The Urban Area Security Initiative is administered by the Department of Homeland Security. It's a critical program focused on enhancing regional preparedness in high-risk areas by fostering better communication and collaboration among local first responders. These grants provide local authorities, first responders, and law enforcement with the resources they need to prepare for, prevent, and recover from attacks and other disasters impacting communities across America. {time} 2020 This Homeland Security appropriations bill is dangerous as it restricts the initiative to allow only 10 urban areas to be eligible for the program and its funding. This would cause more than 50 cities, including Atlanta, to lose funds. Mr. Chair, as we all know, terrorists do not limit their attack to only 10 cities. We should not leave Americans who do not live in these 10 cities unnecessarily and arbitrarily vulnerable to disaster. My home State of Georgia greatly benefits from the Urban Area Security Initiative grants. In 2010, the Atlanta urban area received $13.5 million in grants. Atlanta, one of the most populous and fast-growing cities in the region and home to the world's busiest airport, and already the scene of one terrorist attack during the 1996 Olympics, would lose critical funding under this bill.…”