Chuck Schumer: “I will support that amendment because it is better than what is currently in the bill, although I wish it had more…”

“I will support that amendment because it is better than what is currently in the bill, although I wish it had more money. I wish it had money for the FIRE and COPS Programs, which the amendment I am offering with my colleagues from New York and Maryland, does. And I wish it gave more funding to high-threat, high-need areas, and to all other areas. I also wish that it ensured, as my amendment does, that the Department of Homeland Security would be required to provide the funds within 30 days and that the amendment would guarantee an 80/20 split of those funds between the States and localities. The Schumer amendment is the amendment that provides sufficient funding for police, for fire, for first responders all across the country. We all know how beleaguered they are. We know how stretched they are. We know whether they be in a large city like New York City, or a medium-sized city like Rochester or Syracuse, or a suburb, or even a rural area, our police and firefighters have been pushed to the limit. They must meet their regular law enforcement and public safety responsibilities, but now have new responsibilities under 9/11, and from the Iraq war.”