Oklahoma
State Senate
Senator Jeff Rabon
Senate District 5
Assistant Majority Leader
Choctaw, McCurtain, Atoka and Pushmataha Counties
Audio
Clip 
Print
Article
For Immediate Release: March 29, 2006
Senator Jeff Rabon
Senate Passes Funding Measure for Rural Fire
Departments
Bill Now Goes to Governor Henry for His Signature
The Senate unanimously
passed a bill today that will immediately restore funds
to cash-strapped rural fire departments across the state.
“It is truly a great day in Oklahoma,” Rabon
said. “Senate Bill 1190 is a great step forward
to give our heroic volunteer rural firefighters the
funding they need to continue to keep our families and
communities safe.”
Rabon said today’s vote was a step in the right
direction and strengthens efforts that began three weeks
ago when the Senate passed SB 1735 that doubled the
operational grants to $5000 annually.
“What you started three weeks ago, is what makes
this funding possible today,” Rabon said from
the senate floor.
Rabon praised passage of SB 1190, but said he believes
more needs to be done.
“Now that the Republican leadership in the House
has expressed an earnest desire to do something significant
for the heroic firefighters, I’m hopeful a bipartisan
agreement for additional funding that will deal effectively
with the needs of Oklahoma's rural fire departments
will be met soon.” Rabon said.
The Senator said as the events of the last few weeks
have indicated, fire season is not yet over and tornado
season is already here.
“We must act swiftly to make sure that the first
responders in rural Oklahoma have the resources necessary
to meet the needs of future emergencies,” Rabon
said. “By doing so today with the passage of SB
1190, we are doing our part to help create a safer Oklahoma.
In the Senate, we try to live by the words of President
Harry S. Truman who once said ‘it is amazing what
you can accomplish when you don’t care who gets
the credit’.”
Rabon concluded by saying he will continue talks with
House leaders to push for an additional $5 million to
repair and replace worn out equipment.
For
more information contact:
Senator Rabon's Office - (405) 521-5614
