PRESS CONFERENCE: Commerce Committee Members to Call for Swift Passage of Public Safety Bill

First Responders Still Lacking Lifesaving Communications Tools 10 Years After 9/11

May 17 2011

Senate TV-Radio Gallery, Capitol - S-325

WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Tuesday, May 17, at 11:30 a.m. Senators John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Charles E. Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Klobuchar, and Barbara Boxer will call on colleagues to join them in passing legislation to provide America’s first responders with the communications capabilities they need to do their job. The press conference comes ahead of a planned vote on the bill by the Commerce Committee later this month.

The bill—the Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act—will set aside additional airwaves for first responders to build a nationwide wireless network which will allow them to communicate seamlessly in times of crisis. The 9/11 Commission recommended that Congress dedicate additional spectrum to first responders following the attacks of September 11th. Nearly ten years later, our nation’s first responders still don’t have the seamless, coast-to-coast capability they need to communicate when the unthinkable occurs. This bill will change that.

WHO: Senators John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)

WHAT: Press conference

WHEN: Tuesday, May 17, at 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Senate TV-Radio Gallery, S-325, Capitol

Please note the press conference will also be webcast live via the Senate Commerce Committee website at http://commerce.senate.gov. Simply refresh the Commerce Committee homepage 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to view the webcast.

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