Defending against threats to America's security will always be one of my highest priorities in the U.S. Senate. I'm committed to ensuring that our first responders have the training and equipment they need to protect our families, our homes, and our nation against any and all terrorist threats.

• Local, state, and federal authorities must work together as partners protect our cities and communities.
• Our Homeland Security is an integral part of the current war against terror - a campaign that spans the globe, from Afghanistan, to Iraq, to our hometowns across the state of Texas.
• Our heroes are the volunteers, the doctors, the police, and the firefighters who labor on through the rubble, never losing hope.
• I believe that we must ensure that these heroes have the training, the equipment, and the facilities they require to remain ever vigilant, in times of war and peace. The first responders are the strongest components of our national readiness and an integral part of the current war against terror. These heroes lay down their lives for the sake of others, and we must ensure these patriots are funded appropriately.