[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 130 (Monday, October 11, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                9/11 RECOMMENDATIONS IMPLEMENTATION ACT

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                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2004

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 10) to 
     provide for reform of the intelligence community, terrorism 
     prevention and prosecution, border security, and 
     international cooperation and coordination, and for other 
     purposes:

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support this 
amendment that will help to facilitate emergency preparedness between 
the Federal Government and the States. This amendment instructs the 
Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to develop 
emergency preparedness compacts for acts of terrorism, disasters, and 
emergencies throughout the Nation. Specifically, this will require the 
identification and cataloging of emergency response capabilities from 
Federal-State collaborations and from the Federal Government. It also 
shares examples of best practices between responders at the State, 
local, and Federal levels. No obligations are imposed on the States as 
a result of this amendment.
  In August and September we saw the benefit of State and local 
government collaboration in the wake of the devastation caused by the 
four hurricanes that caused so much devastation in Florida, Alabama, 
Georgia, and other southeastern states. This amendment will help to 
strengthen those collaborations and help to extend the benefit to all 
States.

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