Kay Bailey Hutchison: “I thank Chairman Hollings and Senator Gregg for their leadership and efforts on the Commerce, Justice, State…”

“I thank Chairman Hollings and Senator Gregg for their leadership and efforts on the Commerce, Justice, State appropriations bill for fiscal year 2002. This bill contains funding for many of the important law enforcement activities and counterterrorism training that is vital in the wake of the September 11 attacks. I want to comment on one aspect of this bill and that is the funding for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium. The consortium has been fulfilling the important role of training the Nation's first responders and training cities and communities on how to assess their own vulnerabilities to an attack for over 3 years. I believe the bill funds the consortium at a level of $13.969 million, divided evenly. This is a significant reduction in funding from last year, and it is my understanding that additional funding is expected to be provided in the supplemental appropriations bill. The components of the consortium each have an important role to play, however, the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center, NERRTC, at Texas A&M has been the leader in the number of first responders trained. It would be my hope and willingness to assure increased funding for the NERRTC and the consortium as a whole.”