House chairmen clash over first responder funding bill

House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young, R-Alaska, and ranking member James Oberstar, D-Minn., Wednesday threatened to unite their panel against a bill to revamp the federal funding process for emergency "first responders."

"I'll suggest a no vote," Young vowed.

Young said if House GOP leaders allowed only a version of the "first responders" bill backed by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Christopher Cox, R-Calif., to come to the floor -- and prevented consideration of the version approved by voice vote Wednesday by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee -- he would ask his panel members to vote against the measure.

Oberstar said he supported the chairman's statement.

Young's panel rewrote Cox's version Wednesday by restoring the status quo grant process and broadening the grant requirements to include hazards such as hurricanes and earthquakes, not just terrorism-related risks.

After the Homeland Security panel approved the bill in March, it was referred to four other panels with jurisdiction: Transportation and Infrastructure, Science, Judiciary and Energy and Commerce, which takes up the bill today. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., limited each panel's time to act on the legislation until June 7.

The Judiciary panel is not expected to take up the bill before Monday's deadline but could ask for an extension, according to a spokesman. The Science panel discharged the bill in April without taking action.

On Wednesday, Young also repeated earlier statements that under a deal with House GOP leaders, the Homeland Security panel should have only oversight responsibilities and should not be weighing in legislative matters.

But the staff director for Homeland Security ranking member Jim Turner, D-Texas, questioned the accuracy of Young's comments. He noted the House rules for the 108th Congress, which established the Select Homeland Security panel, stated the committee has "legislative jurisdiction to develop recommendations and report to the House by bill or otherwise on such matters that relate" to the department.

A Young spokesman said House GOP leaders at the "last minute" changed the rules language to give the panel legislative jurisdiction, despite their assurances to committee chairmen the panel would only conduct oversight.