Stabenow, Biden Push Emergency Communications Funding

Sens. Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Biden (D-Del.) Tuesday introduced amendments to the Commerce-State-Justice appropriations bill that would add money for emergency communications equipment. Sen Stabenow's amendment called for $15 billion to go to the Homeland Security Dept. over 3 years to buy equipment that fire, police and rescue units could use to talk to one another in crises. Biden's amendment, which failed 56-41, included $300 million for local agencies for interoperable communications to be handled through the Justice Dept. Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. At CommDaily's deadline, the Stabenow amendment was on the floor awaiting a vote. Sen Stabenow cited a U.S. Conference of Mayors 2004 survey showing 94% of cities lack interoperability among rail facilities, police, fire and emergency medical service. "There is no excuse for that," Stabenow said at a news conference introducing her amendment: "The government's response to Katrina shows how little has been learned." She said only $280 million has been spent on equipment despite a Congressional Budget Office estimate that nearly $15 billion is needed to assure safety.
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