City of McAllen to Receive $1.9 Million to Fund Emergency Communication System

Dear Friends and Neighbors in the 28th District,

I recently received news that the City of McAllen was awarded
$1,940,000 to fund an emergency and public safety communication
system, the Rio Grande Valley Border Interoperability Regional Project
(RGVBIRP). Only seven awards were distributed nation-wide, and I am
grateful to the Department of Homeland Security for granting this
award to my constituency.

As we all know, the violence and unrest in Mexico increases the risk
of violence spilling over to our side of the border. This federal
grant will streamline cross-border communication, giving law
enforcement and emergency responders access to real-time communication
in emergency situations such as natural disasters or national threats.
The implementation of this system will increase coordination and
efficiency among local, state, and federal entities, aiding in our
efforts to keep border communities safe.

As a member of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, I am
constantly working to increase our border security. This new RGVBIRP
communications system, made possible through the federal grant, will
not only strengthen the security of our country, but also will
increase our emergency preparedness.

Sincerely,

Congressman Henry Cuellar

###

Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the U.S. House Homeland
Security and Agriculture Committees in the 112th Congress.
Accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic
development, and national security are his priorities. Congressman
Cuellar is also a Senior Whip and member of the Blue Dog Coalition