Political Quotes

“I rise to offer an amendment to H.R. 2217, and I thank the chairman and Mr. Delaney. As a former law enforcement officer, I know very well the needs of first responders. That is why I am proposing that we increase funding for the United States Fire Administration by $1.8 million. This would restore total funding for the administration to the fiscal year 2013 level of $44 million. My amendment is offset by cutting $2.8 million from the Secretary of Homeland Security's departmental operation and administrative account. According to the CBO, the amendment would reduce net budget authority by $1 million and will have no impact on fiscal year 2014 outlays. Continued funding for the brave men and women who protect American citizens by fighting fires is extremely critical, as we all know. The fire death rate in the United States is one of the highest in the industrialized world. We can prevent deaths by ensuring that the USFA has better resources. Data collection, public education, research, and training are all ways the USFA works to reduce the Nation's fire death rate. Last year, my district experienced record devastation from forest fires, fires that quickly burned out of control and threatened both homes and entire communities. Tens of thousands of acres were destroyed, and it took over 1,000 firefighters and volunteers to get them under control. Hundreds of families lost their homes, and it was only due to the valiant efforts of our fire personnel that more were not lost.…”