Senate Rejects First Responder Plan

The Senate rejected language that would have earmarked $5 billion in government grants to strengthen communications among emergency responders. The measure, which Michigan Democrat Sen. Debbie Stabenow tried to add to a fiscal 2006 funding bill, was rebuffed by a vote of 58-40. Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) insisted that the amendment was unrelated to the hurricane. "The breakdown in communications in the Katrina event was not an interoperability event," he said, insisting that damage to the telecommunications infrastructure along the Gulf Coast and a lack of electricity to recharge portable phones caused most of the problems. Sen John McCain also opposed the bill. said funding must be increased to bolster communications systems for emergency responders. "The better approach is for the nation to get serious about public-safety communications by developing and funding an interoperable communications system for all local, state and federal first responders." Sen McCain said the Homeland Security Department already has spent more than $280 million to purchase interoperable equipment. Gregg, however, cited a much higher figure of $2 billion. Sen McCain also noted that the Senate has passed a homeland security appropriations bill for fiscal 2006 that would provide an additional $2.6 million for interoperable communications.