Feingold Discusses First Responders Support Act at Local Listening Sessions Legislation Will Give First Responders a Voice in the New Department of Homeland Security January 3, 2003 Hartford, WI - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold today announced that his legislation to improve support for local first responders will be among his top priorities in the next Congress. The First Responders Support Act will improve programs that support first responders, require more local input in establishing state offices, and ensure that first responders are able to advise federal agencies. "We must ensure that first responders have the resources that they need to serve our communities, and this will be a high priority of mine in the next Congress," Feingold said. "In particular, I will be fighting for passage of the First Responder Support Act, a bill to promote effective coordination among federal agencies under the Department of Homeland Security and ensure that people in the new Department seek first responders' valuable input." Feingold's First Responders Support Act would: • Establish a homeland security liaison officer in each state, to coordinate between the proposed Department of Homeland Security and state and local first responders • Direct agencies within the proposed Department of Homeland Security to coordinate and prioritize their activities that support first responders, and at the same time, ensure effective use of taxpayer dollars • Establish a new advisory committee of people from the first responder community to identify and streamline effective programs "The President proposed a massive shift in the federal government by creating a new Department of Homeland Security," Feingold said. "Nobody will feel the impact of these changes more than those on the front lines, our law enforcement, firefighters, rescue workers, EMS providers, and other first responders. If a Department of Homeland Security is to be effective, we need to ensure that the resources are delivered to the front line personnel in an effective and coordinated manner." Feingold's 4th Listening Session of 2003, and his 724th since he was first elected, was held at the Hartford City Hall, starting at 8:15 a.m. He held his 5th Listening Session of 2003, and his 725th since he was first elected, at the Mequon City Hall, starting at 10:30 a.m.. This is the eleventh year that Feingold has held Listening Sessions in every Wisconsin county.

# # #