Political Quotes

“This week, the House will take up Homeland Security appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2014. Unfortunately, this legislation, once again, limits the number of cities in the Urban Area Security Initiative program to 25. This is unacceptable. It excludes many cities that have been determined to be a high risk of a terror threat. The Buffalo-Niagara region, which I represent, includes four international border crossings and the busiest passenger crossing along the northern border with Canada; the largest electricity producer in New York State; and is within a 500-mile radius of 55 percent of the American population and 62 percent of the Canadian population. Recently, authorities thwarted a terror plot in which the target is thought to have been a bridge in Niagara Falls. It is unthinkable this bill should continue to exclude Buffalo from this important program it was once eligible for. Mr. Speaker, protecting the homeland should be a Federal Government priority. We should be doing more, not less, to protect our most vulnerable cities, including returning cities to this program and ensuring we maintain the capabilities gained under the program. ____________________”