Richmond County Daily Journal - August 8, 2010

One of my fondest and proudest memories growing up in rural Biscoe was hearing my father, a veteran of the Second World War, talk about his service to our country and the sacrifices and risks demanded of him and his fellow soldiers. In World War II, the entire country went to war, and those at home shared in the national effort on a daily basis: rationing, buying war bonds, producing the planes and other supplies the fighting forces needed. They were all part of America’s commitment to defend freedom across the globe.

Today, the enemies of our nation and the shape of the struggle against them are much different than those of my father’s generation. But make no mistake, there are those here at home that sacrifice and serve every day for the ideals of freedom and safety and security. Those who fight for us abroad and those who protect us here at home ask little of us. We must stand up for all who protect our homeland, from local law enforcement and emergency responders, to the border patrol and the men and women who put their lives in danger every day in the military.

This week marked the 27th Annual National Night Out. This event joins neighborhood citizens with law enforcement to raise awareness to drug and crime prevention. I attended numerous National Night Out events throughout our district last week, and they shared one common theme -- community. Neighbors joined from every corner of our cities and counties to honor law enforcement and learn ways to help keep communities safer. The safety and security that is so easily taken for granted in our daily lives is purchased with a dear price, and the men and women who serve as law enforcement and first responders in our hometowns pay that price.

I was proud to announce last week that more federal grants have been made available for some county sheriff’s offices and police departments in our district. The Department of Justice’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program provides funding to local governments to prevent and control crime based on their own needs and conditions. Many local agencies have used these funds to update and purchase more effective equipment for crime prevention. From improved radio systems to criminal fingerprint database equipment, if we keep our local law enforcement properly equipped and prepared we help ensure their safety as well as the security of our communities. I will continue to fight to make sure our local law enforcement has the tools required to get the job done.

The most dramatic example in our nation’s history of the heroism and sacrifice required of local first responders came on the fateful morning of September 11, 2001. They stepped in at a time of chaos and terror, and helped save countless lives. This week, I was honored to vote for The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. The bill is designed to provide medical monitoring to those exposed to toxins at Ground Zero, bolster treatment at specialized centers for those afflicted by exposure to toxins on Sept. 11, and reopen a compensation fund to provide for the economic loss of victims. Our heroes must be taken care of, and I was proud to support this bill.

Finally, this week marked the one-year anniversary of implementation of benefits of the new GI Bill, enacted during this Congress. This law provides full college tuition, as well as a stipend for books and living expenses, for veterans that served at least three months of active duty service in the War on Terror, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The brave men and women who answered our nation’s call following the attacks of September 11, 2001, have earned the opportunity to get a college education, and they should be afforded every chance to participate in the American Dream. The law also provides the same benefits to children of men and women killed in action. These families sacrifice so much, and the new GI Bill is much needed investment in the future of our bravest Americans.

From our local first responders to those defending freedom overseas, all those who make our security and our way life possible deserve not only our respect and thanks, but also the tools and equipment necessary to do the job we have asked them to do. I am honored to represent you in Congress, and I promise to always stand up for those who so proudly and bravely stand up to serve and defend our great nation.