$23 million for NERRTC included in 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations bill

The 2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, which includes $23 million for TEEX’s National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC), has passed both houses of Congress.

The bill passed the Senate on July 9 and the House of Representatives on June 24. The bill will proceed to a joint Senate and House conference committee to work out differences in the two versions before the final version goes to the President for his signature.

“We are fortunate to have several members in both House and Senate who appreciate the importance of what NERRTC does and work tirelessly on our behalf,” said TEEX Associate Director Bill May. “Congressman Chet Edwards, who represents College Station, has been a steadfast supporter of the program, and this year, played a key role in ensuring the inclusion of funds in the House bill. Congressman (John) Carter, a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, also worked actively in support of this funding request. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, and Senator John Cornyn were instrumental to getting this funding in the Senate version of the bill.”

These lawmakers understand that the Homeland Security National Training Program Cooperative Agreement is vital to ensuring that the nation’s emergency personnel are properly prepared to serve the country in a disaster, May said.

NERRTC is a founding member of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, which is a critical to disaster preparedness and response, May said. “We provide training and technical assistance to jurisdictions to prevent, protect, respond to, and recover from all kinds of catastrophic events.”

NERRTC is one of the seven members of the NDPC involved in the National Training Program. Similar training programs are based in Anniston, Ala., Socorro, NM, Baton Rouge, LA, Las Vegas, NV, Pueblo, CO, and Honolulu, HI.