Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, our amendment would enhance public safety in communities across the country by striking the provision in the bill that would limit participation in the Urban Area Security Initiative program to just 10 cities. Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano has said that the architecture of homeland security begins in the homeland. The Urban Area Security Initiative program protects the hometown by allowing first responders and emergency officials to practice coordinating response scenarios across jurisdictional lines. Until recently, the program supported these crucial activities in 64 communities, including my own, judged by the Department of Homeland Security to be vulnerable to terrorist attack. That was until we decimated the program by cutting 20 percent of its funding in the continuing resolution. Rather than allow all communities to suffer cuts proportionately, the Department made matters worse by deciding to eliminate half of the 64 communities from the program, including all four communities in upstate New York. Let us not make a third mistake this year by limiting participation in this important program to even fewer urban areas. Mr. Chairman, my community of western New York includes four international bridge crossings and the busiest passenger crossing at the northern border; the largest electricity producer in New York State; and the homegrown al Qaeda terrorist cell, the Lackawanna Six.…”