FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 10, 2002

LARSON OFFERS AMENDMENT TO AID MUNICIPALITIES AND LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS

Effort Defeated Along Party-Lines In Science Committee Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) today offered an amendment to the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (H.R. 5005) in the House Science Committee which would have eliminated the requirement that matching funds be provided by localities for federal counter-terrorism training and equipment grants for firefighters. By ensuring that municipalities would receive grants through the Firefighter Assistance program without having to provide matching funds, Larson's amendment would have increased access to the grants and sped the delivery of funding to local fire departments. The Larson amendment was defeated in the committee along party lines, 16 to 17.

Larson stated: