WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 23, 2011 – In response to the announcement that the U.S. Congress’ Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Super Committee) failed to strike a deal to reduce the deficit before their deadline today, the Public Safety Alliance (PSA) – the nation’s leading advocate for millions of first responders – released the following statement:

“We strongly believe the Super Committee would have included allocation of the D block spectrum to public safety and funding of the Public Safety Broadband Network, as derived from incentive-based and other spectrum auction revenue, as part of deficit reduction legislation had it not reached the current impasse,” said City of North Las Vegas Fire Chief Al Gillespie, President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and a PSA spokesman.  “Still, we must move on. Consequently, the entire public safety community urges Congress to stay focused on S.911; Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act of 2011, and allocating the D Block to first responders for a nationwide communications network.  Every day that our country does not have a dedicated public safety broadband network, is one more day that the health and welfare of all Americans is put at unnecessary risk.”

Therefore, the PSA encourages the following immediate congressional action:

• Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) schedule floor consideration of S.911
• House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Ranking Member Henry Waxman (D-CA) take immediate steps to assure consideration and report out of their Committee of comparable legislation to S. 911
• The House and Senate leadership support the inclusion of S.911 on any legislative vehicle such as omnibus Appropriation bill, extension of payroll taxes holiday and unemployment benefits by end of year

Added San Jose, CA Police Chief Chris Moore, “We are encouraged by our recent discussions with Members and staff of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee, and believe that Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Eshoo and all members of the subcommittee will move quickly to introduce and mark-up a bill for full committee consideration before year’s end. We look forward to continuing those discussions and negotiations in the next few weeks.”

For more information on S.911 and D Block allocation, visit: www.psafirst.org .