[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 34 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 34

 Expressing support for the emergency first responders and communities 
      which are the front lines of the Nation's homeland defense.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 29, 2003

Mrs. Clinton submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
             the Committee on Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for the emergency first responders and communities 
      which are the front lines of the Nation's homeland defense.

Whereas since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on our country, first 
        responders--the men and women who serve as police officers, 
        firefighters, and emergency services personnel--and communities all 
        across the United States have found themselves on the front lines of 
        homeland defense in the war against terrorism on United States soil;
Whereas we recognize that the first responders and communities have been forced 
        to bear almost all of the financial burden that accompanies this 
        responsibility;
Whereas it is inappropriate for the first responders and communities to bear 
        that responsibility alone;
Whereas State and local fiscal crises have led to layoffs of first responders 
        and the closing of police and fire stations all across America at a time 
        when the homeland security demands on our first responders and local 
        communities are greater than ever;
Whereas Congress has provided strong support for homeland security through the 
        appropriation of funds to help our first responders and local 
        communities improve homeland defense, but the Senate recognizes that not 
        all of these resources have yet reached our first responders and local 
        communities;
Whereas in addition to the homeland security funding that Congress has already 
        appropriated, additional homeland security resources are needed by our 
        first responders and local communities;
Whereas the strength of this Nation's homeland defense depends upon the 
        appropriation of homeland security resources in addition to the full 
        funding of traditional first responder federal programs, such as the 
        COPS program and the grant program commonly known as the FIRE Act 
        program, which have greatly benefited the American people by helping 
        first responders reduce crime and prevent and respond to fires and other 
        emergencies; and
Whereas we recognize that homeland defense will only be as strong as the weakest 
        link at the State and local levels and that the home front will be 
        better prepared and the United States will be stronger if the first 
        responders and our communities have the resources and tools that they 
        need to bolster emergency preparedness and response efforts: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that Congress should 
fully fund all traditional first responder programs and appropriate 
substantial additional resources to assist local communities and first 
responders in making the homeland defense of the United States as 
strong as possible.
                                 <all>