National Preparedness Month

Floor Speech

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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today as an original cosponsor of House Resolution 1618. This bipartisan resolution recognizes the month of September as National Preparedness Month, during which government officials, the private sector, and individual citizens are urged to become better prepared for terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and other emergencies.

Earlier this month, we commemorated the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and honored those who were lost that day. Weeks earlier we marked the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and we were reminded of the lasting devastation caused by the storm.

These solemn anniversaries are powerful reminders of the threats we face and the importance of being prepared. Having an emergency kit, which includes basic supplies such as water, nonperishable foods, flashlights, batteries and other items, developing an emergency evacuation plan for your family, and staying informed about what's going on in your local area, are all steps that can be taken to become more prepared.

In addition to promoting these steps, House Resolution 1618 commends the employees of the Department of Homeland Security; other Federal agencies; State, local, and tribal government officials; as well as emergency responders and law enforcement officers who defend our Nation against terrorism. Their dedication to protecting our homeland against threats is one that we cannot and must not take for granted.

For this reason I have been a strong advocate of the Federal grant programs such as the FIRE and SAFER programs, which provide direct and much-needed support to our Nation's firefighters for equipment, staffing, and many other needs.

The Center for Domestic Preparedness in my home district of Anniston, Alabama, is another prime example of the Federal Government's commitment to first responders, providing premier hands-on training in disaster preparedness and response at no cost to the State, local, and tribal emergency responders.

These types of Federal initiatives help ensure that we do our part in providing the men and women on the front lines with the resources necessary to carry out their vital missions. I hope that we will continue to enhance funding for these programs, which also have the tremendous benefit of promoting a higher level of coordination and planning across all levels of government.

I want to thank Chairman Thompson and Subcommittee Chairwoman Richardson for their work on this resolution. As a House co-chair of National Preparedness Month, I urge all of my colleagues to support the measure.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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