Radio Address for Senator Don White - November 2006

Hello, I am State Senator Don White and I have the distinct privilege of serving as Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.

Over the course of my time as Chairman of that Committee, I have gained an even deeper respect and affection for all of our fellow Pennsylvanians in the unformed services. By uniform services, I am of course referring to the men and women serving or retired from our military as well as our first responders, the police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel who make our communities safer.

As we go through November, a month when we give thanks for all that we have been given, it is also an appropriate time to remember and offer our appreciation to those men and women who serve and sacrifice for our neighborhoods, our Commonwealth and our country.

This is an excellent time to remember the service and sacrifices made by Pennsylvanians in America's military. Our national strength and our personal freedoms that we hold dear are preserved each day by our military and it is only fitting that we recall and honor that dedication to duty.

Today, thousands of Pennsylvanians are serving overseas, some in garrison duty and others in much more dangerous environments. Some are active duty members, while others are members of the National Guard who have left their civilian lives behind to answer their nation's call.

It takes a special person to be a soldier, a sailor, an airman, a Marine, or a member of the Coast Guard. What kind of person can sleep in a tent night after night and lace up a set of boots well before the sun rises? How many people would want to face the threats and uncertainties that our service members do on a daily basis?

And, we must never forget the toll that military service takes on loved ones left behind. Yes, it would be easy to say those men and women are patriots. But, we also proudly call them Americans, and thank God for them.

Nor can we forget our everyday heroes back here at home, the thousands of police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians who keep us safe and are there in times of crisis. In particular, I want to especially thank those who give their time and energy as volunteers.

I know that many volunteer departments and ambulance squads are having a tough time making ends meet. Many are scrambling just to keep their stations open. With vehicles costing hundreds of thousands of dollars and basic personal equipment, such as turnout coats and breathing apparatus costing thousands more, it's hard for many companies to be prepared for all of the emergency situations they may face.

The other major issue facing these companies is recruitment. Volunteer service is time consuming and the individual training requirements can be costly. Not everyone has the fortitude to be an emergency responder and not everyone has the time and resources necessary for the training required to serve as a firefighter or EMT.

New technology in the home and in the work place, increasing and diversified traffic on our highways, coupled with the need to be prepared for natural disasters, emergencies or terrorism, mean the days of just putting on the gear and jumping on the fire truck or ambulance when the siren calls are over. Today's emergency responders must practice their skills on a routine basis and continue to learn new ones as well.

I want to assure you that the General Assembly is working to help these volunteer agencies. We considered and passed legislation that assists them and their families financially, protects them from losing their jobs when called to active duty, enhances their educational opportunities and provides help to the survivors of those who make the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

In addition, I introduced legislation that addresses the funding and manpower shortage issues by providing incentives for departments to merge or enter into joint operating arrangements. These companies could strengthen their capabilities by combining their assets and pooling their equipment and manpower.

We are doing our part and I call on every Pennsylvanian to also help our men and women in uniform. Your appreciation of their service and support is very important.

I am state Senator Don White, thank you for listening and God Bless the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.