Ruppersberger release

For Immediate Release
July 1, 2009 Contact Information
Heather Moeder Molino
202-225-3061

From the Office of Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger
Maryland’s 2nd District

Ruppersberger and Mikulski Announce Funding for Critical Baltimore County 911 Center Upgrade

(Towson, MD.)- Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) and Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) today joined Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith to announce new federal funding for critical upgrades to Baltimore County’s 911 Communications Center. The center, currently located in the basement of the county circuit courthouse, handles more than 900,000 calls for help each year. The existing center is 20 years old and is in need of additional space and upgraded technology to respond to the County’s growing population needs.

The $1.5 million in federal funding Congressman Ruppersberger and Senator Mikulski announced today will help Baltimore County modernize its 911 Communications Center so it can become faster and more efficient responding to emergencies. The funding will buy new, digital equipment – upgraded phones, computers, and radios – that will expand the communications capabilities in emergency situations across the county and in the region. The total cost of the project is $14 million.

“Our 911 operators and dispatchers are the first lines of defense against everything from traffic jams to terrorist attacks. It is critical we give them the fastest and most accurate tools available to do their jobs of saving lives every day. This money will enable Baltimore County to purchase new phones, radios, and computer systems to ensure our 911 Center is well equipped to handle emergencies of all magnitudes,” said Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD).

“Every day, our 911 operators and dispatchers are there protecting people whey they need protection most. I am committed to making sure they have the best tools available to do their jobs. They need modern communications equipment – lightweight phones and lightning-fast computers – to respond to emergency situations where a moment’s delay could mean the difference between life and death,” said Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). “This funding will help ensure the dedicated staff of Baltimore County’s 911 Call Center has the technology and resources they need to support their work of saving lives every day.”

“In Baltimore County, we are very proud of the consistently high level of emergency service we provide our citizens in all aspects of public safety – beginning with the initial 911 call. Our 911 Call Center is no longer simply a switchboard, but a state of the art communications hub. I sincerely thank Senator Mikulski, Congressman Ruppersberger, and their partners in Washington for recognizing the importance of ensuring that our dedicated 911 Center staff have the technology and resources they need to do their jobs at peak efficiency,” said Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith (D-MD).

Congressman Ruppersberger, a Member of the House Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator Mikulski, Chairwoman of the respective Subcommittee in the Senate, worked together to secure $1.5 million in funding for the project in the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, signed into law in March, 2009. Congressman Ruppersberger successfully secured $500,000 for the project in the Fiscal Year 2010 CJS Appropriations Bill that passed the House last week. Senator Mikulski secured $1.5 million in funding for the companion legislation in the Senate. The differences will be worked out in a conference committee. Congressman Ruppersberger and Senator Mikulski will fight to ensure funding for this project remains in the final bill that goes to the President to be signed into law.
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