FILNER INTRODUCES BILL FOR FEDS TO PAY COSTS OF EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AT BORDER ENTRIES

By Miriam Raftery April 18, 2009 (San Diego)—Congressman Bob Filner (R-San Diego) has introduced the “Save Our Border Communities Act, H.R. 670. The bill would require the federal government to reimburse costs for local police, firefighters and other first responders to provide services associated with U.S. ports of entry on the international border. “The federal government has not reimbursed border towns for border-related incidents and the drain on local emergency services is increasingly unbearable,” Filner stated in a newsletter to constituents. “Especially in these tough economic times, local agencies and organizations can’t afford to foot the bill for the federal government.” Last year, the Calexico Fire Chief announced that the Mexican department would no longer answer calls from the Port of Entry, increasing demand on U.S. emergency responders. “An estimated 25 to 30 percent of the calls received by the local Fire Department were border-related, Filner said. Imperial County, California spent $5.5 million in 2006 for law enforcement and criminal justice services, costing each county resident an extra $34.59 per year. The measure is currently awaiting action in the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.