Ralph Hall: “the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program I think deserve everything that the…”

“the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program I think deserve everything that the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) has recommended. I think they deserve the support of this House, because their missions are very important to the safety of every American anywhere. I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Committee on Basic Research, and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), who is the ranking Democratic member of the subcommittee, for their good work in developing H.R. 1550. Also I want to acknowledge the leadership of the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), chairman of the Committee on Science, for moving the legislation forward and for so ably setting it forth before us tonight. Mr. Speaker, actually, title I of H.R. 1550 will give the Fire Administration the resources it needs to carry out its important mission and will also ensure that the agency conducts a strategic planning necessary to ensure that the resources provided are spent effectively. In addition, title II of the bill reauthorizes the funding of Federal research and geosciences, social sciences and engineering that has contributed to saving countless lives, personal property and critical infrastructures.”