The federal government announced today that Virginia, Maryland and the District will receive nearly $75 million to help train and equip firefighters and other first responders as part of a $1.5 billion program of national assistance on homeland security costs. Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner (D) welcomed Michael F. Byrne, the federal coordinator for homeland security in the Washington region, to a fire station not far from the state Capitol to receive the paperwork for the state’s $33.7 million share, saying, “Let me assure you that these dollars will be well spent.” The governor added, “Virginia will be better prepared.” At the same time, Warner, like governors of other cash-strapped states, vowed to keep the pressure on the Bush administration for full reimbursement of new emergency preparedness costs being shouldered by state and local governments. Full Story
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