Preparedness response and communications will come to order. The subcommittee is meeting today to receive testimony on the state of First Responder communications. I now recognize myself for an Opening Statement. I want to welcome all witnesses here this morning on an issue that is vital to our Homeland Security. The ability of our First Responders to communicate. As noted in the 2006 national interoperable baseline survey, there is a, quote, direct correlation between effective communications, interoperatedability and First Responders ability to save lives, end quote. In my hometown of new york city we know this all too well. Both the first both the office of Emergency Communications and First Responder Network Authority were established in the wake of the communication failures of 9 11 and later in hurricane katrina. We have made a great deal of progress since those fateful disasters. States and localities have invested billions of dollars in their Communications Networks, including