THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF WEST VIRGINIA CONGRESSMAN NICK RAHALL.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) announced today that he has secured approval by the full House Appropriations Committee of $1.4 million in the Fiscal Year 2009 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for technology upgrades to the Cabell County Emergency Response Center.

"The Cabell County Emergency Response Center is an essential part of our law enforcement strategy to respond to national and local emergencies,” said Rahall. “This new funding, which I requested, will provide Cabell County with some of the most modern emergency response equipment available. I am proud to be of service to our law enforcement officers as they work to catch criminals and respond to emergencies."

Rahall’s $1.4 million will allow Cabell County to purchase the state-of-the-art technology for the Cabell County Emergency Response Center, which is used by Cabell County law enforcement and emergency personnel, the West Virginia State Police, and the Marshall University Campus Police and also serves as a back-up center for neighboring Wayne County 911.

“This funding will greatly aid in the ability of local law enforcement to provide more timely and effective assistance to Cabell and Wayne County citizens in the event of an emergency,” said Rahall.

The Fiscal Year 2009 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill must next receive approval of the full U.S. House of Representatives. It would then be sent to a conference committee to iron out differences between House-passed and Senate-passed versions of the bill. Once the conference report receives final approval of both bodies, it would be sent to the White House to be signed into law.