Senate Proceeding on Jul 8th, 2009 :: 3:39:25 to 3:46:40
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3:39:19 to 3:39:42( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: quorum call: the presiding officer: the senator unanimous consent the call of the quorum be dispensed. .the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. lautenberg: thank you, madam president. i rise today because there's a reckless amendment on the floor

3:39:25 to 3:46:40( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Frank Lautenberg

3:39:43 to 3:40:03( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: of the united states senate to strip us -- this country -- of important infrastructure element to protect us against terrorism. this amendment that's on the

3:40:04 to 3:40:25( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: floor is intended to strip the state of new jersey of antiterrorism programs. now, in poll after poll people across our country are still deeply concerned about what might happen in the event of a te knows we have people fighting against terror in other

3:40:26 to 3:40:46( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: countries but we also have a huge assignment here. just today we saw an attempt to smuggle bomb parts into some government successful. my god, what do we have to do to say to people here, in this

3:40:47 to 3:41:08( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: ace, we've got our -- our primary function is to protect our citizens and new jersey is one of the other states, one of the 50 states in t that if it's a dangerous event that occurs, whether a natural disaster or whether it's a terrorist attack, we have an obligation to see these states

3:41:09 to 3:41:32( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: have the tools to protect themselves. eliminating funding for these programs will make families in new jersey more vulnerable to terrorist attacks and nural disasters. now, i point out something here that this area that we're

3:41:33 to 3:41:53( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: particularly focused on where 9/11 was the largest catastrophe to happen on one area that i'll describe in just a minute is one of the most and risks are very high.

3:41:54 to 3:42:15( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: eliminating funds for these programs makes families in new jersey more vulnerable. we are concerned about without these investments, when a terrorist strikes or a hurricane hits there's a good chance emergency generators won't arrive on time, medical

3:42:16 to 3:42:36( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: crews won't know quite where to go. let's be absolutely clear: new jersey is no striker to terrorism. we lost -- no stranger to terrorism. we lost 700 new jersey on 9/11 and dozens more retain illnesses that deloped

3:42:37 to 3:42:59( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: as a result of their attempt protect the citizens who survived -- those who survived. new jersey is them to what has been labeled by the f.b.i. as the -- new je what has been labeled by the f.b.i. as the most dangerous two-mile stretch betwe port of newark and newark

3:43:00 to 3:43:20( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: airport, the most densely populated state in the nation. the area around this stretch could injure or kill almost 12 million because of the real possibility of an attack, cities and counties throughout new jersey

3:43:21 to 3:43:44( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: have created local emergency erat what else could we ask for? what about people who have draughts or hurricanes or -- have droughts or hurricanes or earthquakes o eruptions in this country? what states have a right to ask for -- they have a right to ask for help, but why only provide the help happened, if we can prevent

3:43:45 to 3:44:06( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: things from taking place? because of the real possibilities that we have these local emergency operational centers in new these centers coordinate information during an attack, manage the immediate respons the cat class mick emergencies. both the 9/11 commission report

3:44:07 to 3:44:27( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: and the department of homeland security centers as imperative to people's safety and security when a community crisis occurs. in fact, according to the 9/11 commission's senior counsel, if there had been a functional emergency operation center after

3:44:28 to 3:44:49( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: the terrorist attack on the world center, lives would have been saved that day. and here's what'll happen if the amendment being offered by senators mccain and feingold is passed: the emergency operation centers in union county, in my state, communications connects fire, police, and

3:44:50 to 3:45:11( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: medical officers. the emergency operations center in south orange, one of our cities, won't have a working emergency generator. we can't afford to be without this infrastructure of emergency equipment as well as services. and the emergency operations

3:45:12 to 3:45:34( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: center in hackensack will not be able to properly train police officers and firefighter make no mistake, emergency operations centers save lives. that's that's what its purpose madam president, the amendment being offered by senators

3:45:35 to 3:45:55( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: mccain and feingold defies common sense. by jeopardizing emergency operation centers in my state and other states across the country, make us less secure. and i hope that my colleagues will say that. we can't permit it in new jersey

3:45:56 to 3:46:20( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: and we can't permit it in other places in the country. we have to as the say, be prepared. it is the simplest lesson that we could learn. prevention is far better than cure. i thank you, madam chairwoman, for the opportunity to speak, and i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the

3:46:21 to 3:46:26( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: clerk will call the roll.