(Washington, D.C.)–Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) and Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) have requested that the U.S. Congress provide funding for the first responders involved in the West Warwick Station Nightclub disaster.  If approved by the House and Senate conferees, the funding would be provided as part of this year’s federal budget.

"Congressman Langevin and I have been working hard to convince our colleagues in Congress that this money is sorely needed to support the efforts of the first responders who acted so valiantly the night of the Station disaster," said Kennedy.  "I am hopeful that the House and Senate will recognize this need and include it in this year’s budget."

Added Langevin, "Over a month later, Rhode Island still feels the pain of the West Warwick nightclub fire.  The Administration's failure to declare this horrific tragedy a federal disaster has left state and local agencies struggling to recuperate the enormous costs of responding to the fire and its aftermath.  We hope that our colleagues in Congress will recognize the grave circumstances facing the State of Rhode Island and provide some much needed federal financial assistance."

In recognition of the tremendous costs incurred by the State of Rhode Island and several of its municipalities in responding to the tragic fire at the Station Nightclub, Kennedy and Langevin have asked the Appropriations Committee to include in the Supplemental Appropriations Bill direction to the Office of Justice Programs to allocate funding to the State of Rhode Island for the purpose of assisting the State Police and municipal law enforcement entities in meeting the overtime equipment and related costs of their emergency response activities.

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