Political Quotes

“first may I compliment the gentleman and his committee on his efforts to get needed support to our first responders, our firefighters, so they can better prepare for any terrorist attack that may occur. Mr. Chairman, as the gentleman knows, the President's fiscal year 2003 budget request proposes consolidating existing preparedness programs under the Office of National Preparedness within the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This is a proposal Congress will be addressing in the coming months. However, a concern I have is that the first responder supplemental grant funding for fiscal year 2002 in this bill goes to the Department of Justice. I understand the reason behind providing Justice with funding, but I hope it does not mean that the anti-terror needs of firefighters and emergency medical personnel will be implemented without the input of the U.S. Fire Administration, which is part of FEMA. Can the chairman provide some assurance that he and his House conferees will take into account the needs of firefighters and EMS personnel as it distributes these supplemental funds?”