[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 101 (Thursday, July 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1571-E1572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               INTRODUCTION OF THE PREPAREDNESS FIRST ACT

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                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2006

  Ms. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, America needs to be prepared. 
Whether for a commuter train attack, as we saw recently in India, or a 
hurricane, like we are still rebuilding from in New Orleans, it is 
clear America must get serious about all-hazards preparedness, that is 
preparing for all emergencies--be they natural or man-made.
  Yesterday I introduced the Preparedness First Act to authorize 
critical grant programs that our State and local governments already 
depend on for all-hazards emergency preparation.
  The premise of H.R. 5910 is to ensure that States and localities will 
have a basic level of

[[Page E1572]]

preparedness, so they can protect their citizens, communicate with each 
other, and work with the Federal Government during any type of 
emergency, from earthquakes to hurricanes to terrorist attacks.
  The legislation starts by authorizing the Emergency Management 
Performance Grants Program, EMPG. The EMPG program provides broad base 
grants to ensure that States and localities have adequate, coordinated 
and up-to-date plans to respond to all-hazards emergencies.
  In my bill, eligibility for all project grants is linked to their 
inclusion in these emergency plans. This will help ensure that projects 
will be vetted, remain a priority, and fit in with an overall plan of 
preparedness.
  Next, the bill authorizes the State Homeland Security Grant Program, 
SHSGP, which awards block grants to States based on the risk of natural 
and man-made disasters. These grant funds buy the materials and 
supplies States need according to their emergency plans.
  The bill also authorizes the Metropolitan Medical Response System, 
MMRS, to give regions the tools they need to respond to major medical 
emergencies caused by either natural disasters or a terrorist attack.
  Finally, we authorize the Urban Area Security Initiative, UASI, to 
give the added resources which are specifically needed for larger 
cities to respond to terrorism. Approval of UASI grants, like all of 
the grants in H.R. 5910, is tied to the inclusion of projects in State 
and local emergency plans.
  Under my bill, all States would receive a base of preparedness 
funding. This would guarantee the Federal Government an able partner in 
every State to coordinate preparedness activities. Additional resources 
would then be made available to address the unique risk of natural and 
man-made disasters that are posed to each area.
  This Federal and regional coordination is exactly what emergency 
managers have been calling for. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 
5910 and put all-hazard preparedness first for all Americans.

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