Washington, Aug 8 -

Today, Congressman Scott Garrett toured the Warren County Communications Center in Washington, New Jersey, to see how a $150,000 grant he secured for the County is being used to help first responders protect Warren residents.
 
“Both the terrorist attacks of September 11th and natural disasters like Hurricane Ivan exposed the serious risks of failing to sync up communications systems across jurisdictional lines,” said Garrett.  “If firefighters and police officers can’t communicate with one another because their using different radio systems, their lives are at risk and the communities they protect are in jeopardy.”
 
“I am pleased to be able to work with Warren County to update its system so municipalities throughout the County can work together and can work with the NJ State Police and neighboring counties,” continued Garrett.
 
The Warren County Communication Interoperability Project will update the County’s 12-year-old countywide radio system.  The project is expected to be completed by 2009.  Garrett secured $150,000 in funding for the project in Fiscal Year 2006 through the COPS Technology Program, and he continues to work with the Warren County Office of Emergency Management to secure the $5 million still needed for this $14.45 million project.
 
Last month, Garrett voted for the 21st Century Emergency Communications Act of 2006, which would provide tools and solutions to first responders who are hampered in their ability to communicate with one another during emergencies.  Amongst other provisions, the bill would:
 
·        Create an office for emergency communications within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish accountability in the Federal oversight of interoperability issues.
·        Mandate a National Emergency Communications Report to recommend goals and timeframes and require a baseline assessment of emergency communications capabilities.
·        Require state and local governments to establish effective Statewide Interoperable Communications Plans before being able to use DHS grant funds for emergency communications.
·        Facilitate coordination of emergency communications by establishing regional working groups comprised of Federal, state, and local officials; first responders; and other relevant stakeholders
 
The House passed that bill by a vote of 414 to 2. 

###