Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, America's Urban Search and Rescue teams are vital task forces that deserve adequate funding so they can continue to bring hope during our country's darkest hours. Deployed across the country whenever a major disaster strikes, these task forces have pulled victims out of the rubble after the World Trade Center collapsed, searched for those stranded in flooded homes during Hurricane Katrina, responded to raging wildfires in Maui, and answered the call to help with many other disasters across America and the world. These heroes have been there for our Nation when we have needed them the most. While we cannot forecast the next national emergency, Congress must proactively support the needs of these task forces so they may adequately prepare for the next moment they are called into action. That is why I am leading a bipartisan group of lawmakers with Representatives Young Kim from California and Jill Tokuda from Hawaii to advocate for an $18 million increase in Federal funding for America's 28 Urban Search and Rescue task forces. This would prevent cuts to funding the task forces received in fiscal year 2024, and it would meet the actual expenses that local fire departments and other first responders have on the ground. Our proposal is also extremely modest. It represents just $2 million per task force.…”