Congressman Michael Bilirakis Congressman Michael Bilirakis.  Proudly representing the people of the 9th Congressional District of Florida
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Honoring Our First Responders

May 16, 2005
 

On May 11, 2005, I was on the floor of the House of Representatives casting a vote when the House Sergeant of Arms and U.S. Capitol Police began evacuating the entire Capitol campus due to an aircraft that had entered the restricted airspace around Washington D.C.  Thankfully, this tense situation ended up a being a false alarm.  However, the Capitol Police and other law enforcement officers who stepped up and assisted Members of Congress, our staffs, and the thousands of visitors during the evacuation deserve praise for a job well done. 

As we celebrate National Police Week, it is important that we honor the thousands of law enforcement officers – and other first responders – who place themselves in harm’s way to ensure the safety of our nation and her citizens.  Police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and countless other first responders always have been held in high esteem, no more so than in the post-9/11 world in which we live.  Who will ever forget the images of the heroic police officers and firefighters who risked everything, including their own lives, to save people fleeing from the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on that fateful September morning?  We cannot forget, we should not forget, and we must not forget.

The House of Representatives once again proved its commitment to America’s first responders by approving H.R. 1544, the Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act, on May 12, 2005.  This bill, approved by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 409 to 10, is designed to target homeland security funding to the areas with the greatest threat of potential terrorist activity.  H.R. 1544 would require the First Responder Grant Board to help prioritize grant applications based on threat, vulnerability, and consequences of a terrorist attack.  This will help states like Florida, which has an enhanced risk for terrorism because of our many ports and waterways, tourist attractions, and large cities.

The bill also would require grantees’ homeland security plans to be in place before they get taxpayer money.  This is important because currently, many states have large amounts of unspent federal funds because their terrorism preparedness plans were not in place at the time the grant was awarded.  In a tight budget climate, it is critical that federal funds be used in the most effective manner possible, and the Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act would accomplish just that.  It is my hope that the Senate will expedite consideration of this bill so that it can be enacted into law.

In honor of National Police Week, I urge Americans across the country to take the time to thank local law enforcement, firefighters, and other first responders who have committed to protecting our nation and communities.  We owe them a debt of gratitude for their service and their sacrifice.

   
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