Public Safety & Homeland Security

In Connecticut and across the nation, first responders put their lives on the line every day to protect our families, our community and our country. Whether it is police officers, firefighter or EMS who protect our homes and towns, or the men and women of the Coast Guard and Border Patrol Agents who protect our nation on land and sea, these first responders deserve our unremitting support.

As a member of the Congressional Fire Caucus and the House Law Enforcement Caucus, I have fought to increase support for these first responders to ensure that they have the resources they need to do their jobs. In particular, I am working to:

• Ensure that first responders in eastern Connecticut communities have access to the critical resources they for training, hiring and equipment through programs like the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) or Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) programs.
   
• Close lingering security gaps at our nation’s airports, transit systems and ports identified by the 9/11 Commission.
   
• Advance legislation to provide parity and fairness for volunteer emergency responders, such as fire police officers, whose families are currently denied access to benefits when they die in the line of duty.