Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 361, the Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act, introduced by my colleague and the former chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, Congressman Bilirakis. This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make it clear that grant funds under the State Homeland Security Grant Program and the Urban Area Security Initiative may be used to enhance medical preparedness and purchase medical countermeasures. The grant guidance for these programs currently allows funds to be used for medical preparedness equipment and activities. This bill codifies those activities to ensure that they will continue to be allowable, and it will not cost any additional money to do so. We have seen the benefits that grant funds, including those used for medical preparedness activities, have provided when it comes to response capabilities. This was clearly demonstrated in the response to the Boston Marathon bombings. We know that the threat of a chemical or biological attack is real. We must ensure that our first responders have the tools and capabilities they need if such an event should occur. As a result of this bill, grant funds could be used for items such as predeployed medical kits for first responders and their families, caches of equipment, training and exercises, and planning activities. Identical language to H.R.…”