[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 134 (Thursday, October 20, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCING THE IMPROVE INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS FOR FIRST 
                             RESPONDERS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 20, 2005

  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.
  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.
  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.
  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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