Issue Position: Learning the Lessons of September 11

Issue Position

The tragedy was a devastating blow to all of us. We have been forced to accept the fact that we are not immune to foreign attack. While we cannot live our lives in fear, we need to be better prepared. That's true at the local level as well as nationally. I arranged meetings across the District to try to assess the emergency preparedness capabilities of our local governments and agencies. I also circulated a survey, the results of which confirmed my belief that the federal government should be doing much more to help local communities prepare for and respond to emergencies. That's why I introduced legislation to provide $1.5 billion to help local fire and police departments, emergency medical teams and health professionals. I also introduced a bill to give a $1,000 federal income tax credit to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders.

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