Political Quotes

“the budget resolution, the authorization bill, H.R. 1550, and the FEMA director, James Lee Witt, all suggested that a $5 million appropriation to the Fire Administration be authorized in order to implement certain changes in the Fire Administration. I would like to suggest to my colleagues that this is a compromise. The appropriators took out the $5 million. This amendment suggests that we move ahead with $2.5 million to implement these changes in the Fire Administration. The director of FEMA, James Lee Witt, has said at least with the $2.5 million they can move ahead and start making some changes necessary to help the first responders in this country. We have 34,000 fire departments in this country. We have had very little support from the Federal Government. It has been suggested that, after all, it is already in this appropriation bill. There is a 20 percent increase in funding. The 20 percent is an increase from last year's $25 million to this year's $31 million, but they took out the $5 million for this special project. Compare this authorization with what we have given law enforcement; for example, $1 billion for bulletproof vests in 1 year. What are we doing for our first responders? We make these first responders, 80 percent of whom are volunteers, do without any kind of support.”