Thursday, October 11, 2001 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-18) joined other Members of Congress in introducing legislation to fund $1.5 billion for local fire and police departments, emergency medical teams and health professionals, who constitute the first line of response to terrorist attacks. The bill, which was announced at a press conference on Capitol Hill, is called the Municipal Preparation and Strategic Response Act of 2001 and currently has 31 cosponsors.

“This legislation is framed to complement the work of Director Tom Ridge and the Office of Homeland Security,” stated Rep. Doyle. “Where he will be working from the top-down, this legislation will be working from the bottom-up establishing a grass-roots effort among communities, fire departments, police departments and emergency medical teams. Since they are the first to respond, they often take the greatest risk and provide the greatest service.”

This bill would provide funding for municipal agencies for the strategic planning needed to ensure they are fully prepared, equipped and trained for emergency and security issues that arise from terrorist attacks. It would also provide for a coordinated regional response utilizing federal, state and local agencies.

This bill would also authorize $250 million to the Firefighter Assistance Grant Program and $250 million to the COPS Program to create a new grant category specifically for counter-terrorism training and related equipment. The use of these funds would not require matching funds from the community or the department.

“In this day, our police officers and firefighters need the most updated and technologically advanced equipment to respond to any type of emergency,” Doyle said at the press conference held outside the Capitol today. “And for that, they need federal dollars. We cannot expect them to be able to immediately purchase the necessary tools to safeguard America by raising the money through fish fries and bingos. This is why it is crucial to provide the additional COPS and Firefighters Assistance monies without the matching funds requirement.”

Rep. Doyle is planning an informational forum to be held in his district that will bring local and county officials together with firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel to discuss the impact that this legislation will have on their existing and pending disaster plans as well as surrounding issues.

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