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APCO APPLAUDS SENATORS ROCKEFELLER AND HUTCHISON FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP TO EXTEND VITAL PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING
September 23, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today applauded Senators John D. Rockefeller IV (D - WV) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R - Tex.) for their introduction of bipartisan legislation to extend the current spending deadline for the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) grant program. The PSIC program was originally established by Congress to provide one-time funding of $1 billion to state and local governments toward achieving interoperability among our first responders.
"As public safety communications interoperability remains a matter of national priority, this legislation is a crucial first step toward ensuring that state and local public safety professionals not only have the resources, but the time necessary to implement their technology projects as well," APCO International Executive Director George Rice said. "In recognition of the time constraints state and local grantees face, and as previously identified by the Commerce Department's Inspector General, we want to thank Chairman Rockefeller and Ranking Republican Member Hutchison for sponsoring this bill on behalf of our members."
"With this legislation, Senators Rockefeller and Hutchison have put their bipartisan leadership behind one of APCO's top priorities," APCO International Director of Legislative Affairs Yucel Ors said. "We look forward to continuing to work with them, as well as their colleagues in the House, to secure final passage of this critical extension of spending authority ahead of the current deadline in 2010."
APCO International continues to urge Congress to fully fund the follow-on to the one-time PSIC funding, entitled the Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP), at its maximum authorization level of $400 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011. About APCO International
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications. APCO International serves the professional needs of its 15,000 members worldwide by creating a platform for setting professional standards, addressing professional issues and providing education, products and services for people who manage, operate, maintain and supply the communications systems used by police, fire and emergency medical dispatch agencies throughout the world. For more information, visit www.apcointl.org.
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