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2005 Ron Paul Chapter 107
Not linked on Ron Paul’s Congressional website.
Congressional Record [.PDF]
Introducing The Improve Interoperable Communications For First Responders Act
20 october 2005
HON. RON PAUL
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, October 20, 2005
2005 Ron Paul 107:1
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Improve Interoperable Communications for
First Responders Act of 2005. This act provides
Federal assistance to local first responders
for developing an interoperable means of
communications. Ensuring first responders at
the local, state, and Federal level have the
ability to effectively communicate with each
other should be one of the Federal Government’s
top priorities. The ability of first responders
to effectively communicate with each
other, and with their counterparts at different
levels of governments, is key to their ability to
save lives in the crucial time immediately after
a natural disaster or a terrorist attack.
2005 Ron Paul 107:2
My bill helps first responders by establishing a Director of Interoperability and Compatibility
to help develop a national strategy and architecture
for an interoperable system, as well as
to bring together Federal, State, local, and
tribal officials to work on a coordinated effort
to develop and coordinate efforts to implement
an interoperable communications system. The
bill also provides a grant program so state and
local governments can receive Federal assistance
for planning and designing an interoperable
system, as well as in training first responders
how to use the system.
2005 Ron Paul 107:3
Rather than simply further burdening taxpayers, or increasing the already skyrocketing
national debt, my legislation is financed
through cuts in corporate welfare and foreign
aid programs, which subsidize large corporations
and even American businesses’ overseas
competitors such as the Export-Import
Bank use of taxpayer money to underwrite
trade with countries such as Communist
China. It is time for the Federal Government to
begin prioritizing spending by cutting unnecessary
programs that benefit powerful special interests
in order to met our constitutional responsibilities
to ensure America’s first responders
can effectively respond to terrorists’
attacks.
2005 Ron Paul 107:4
Mr. Speaker, reducing spending on corporate welfare and foreign aid to strengthen
first responders’ interoperable capability is a
win-win for the American people. I hope my
colleagues will help strengthen America’s first
responders’ ability to help the American people
in times of terrorists attacks and natural
disasters by cosponsoring the Improve Interoperable
Communications for First Responders
Act.
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