Lawmakers Want Money For First Responders Included In Deficit Plan
By Andrea Salazar
A bipartisan group of Hill lawmakers joined first responders from across the nation Tuesday to urge the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to include in its recommendation a bill to better emergency responder communication.
With the so-called “super committee” nearing its Thanksgiving deadline to come up with at least $1.2 trillion in savings, the group pressed support for a measure that would privatize some lines of communication.
Their plan would allow the Federal Communications Commission to auction spectrum, or public airwaves it has domain over, to raise an estimated $24.5 billion — $6.5 billion of which would go toward deficit reduction.
“Any teenager with a smart phone has better technology than our first responders,” Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said during a news conference today. “They can share more information more quickly than the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep us safe. That must change.”
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) noted that improving nationwide communication is “one of the few recommendations of the 9/11 commission that has not yet been adopted.”
The D-block, a piece of 700 MHz spectrum, would allow first responders nationwide to share information during emergencies.
“We’re using, at best, mid-20th century telecommunications for the 21st century,” Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) said. “That’s what the D-block changes — a dedicated source of funding to buy the best and highest technology to use it for its highest purpose, and that is for the safety of the American people.
Also present at the news conference were Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) and emergency personnel from San Jose, Calif. and New York City.
Female Senators Show Support For Sotomayor
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) explained their support Thursday for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor in relation to the nominee's gender.
“[Sotomayor’s nomination is] important because we want our [government] institutions in this country...to reflect the diversity of our country, and the majority of the people in this country are women and we need to be represented. It doesn’t mean women are better but we are equal,” said Boxer.
The Senators described how Sotomayor’s 17 years of experience as a judge is more than any other nominee to the Supreme Court in the past hundred years.
In addition to gaining the backing of law enforcement organizations, The American Bar Association and the National Association of Women Lawyers found Sotoymayor to be very qualified, said Klobuchar.
Boxer stressed that Sotomayor deserves a fair process without any foul play.
“This woman, this excellent judge deserves to be treated fairly and equal to those who came before her,” said Boxer.
Sonia Sotomayor’s will begin confirmation hearings on Monday July 13th by the Senate Judiciary Committee.