NEW YORK STATE: Andrew Cuomo News Release

ATTORNEY GENERAL CANDIDATE ANDREW CUOMO AND NEW YORK STATE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS CALL ON BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO PROTECT NEW YORK’S FIRE FIGHTERS.

President Charles J. Morello Praises Cuomo as Champion of Working Families.

Cuomo Builds Support Towards Upcoming AFL-CIO Statewide Convention.

Albany, NY (August 8, 2006) – New York State Attorney General candidate Andrew Cuomo today was joined by the New York State Professional Firefighters Association to call on the Bush administration to protect firefighters by restoring funds to the Federal Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program (also known as “FIRE Grants”) and to ensure proper medical care and monitoring to those first responders who served the nation on 9/11. Today’s endorsement, representing 25,000 professional firefighters across the state, continues the steady stream of support from working men and women across the state, in the lead-up to the statewide AFL-CIO convention next week.

The Bush administration recently proposed cutting the Federal Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program by 46% which would amount to $31 million in cuts to upstate fire stations, including $3.9 million in the Capital Region. This could have devastating effects on the abilities of fire fighters throughout New York State to purchase lifesaving equipment and tools. Cuomo repeated his call on the Bush administration to adequately fund a medical treatment program to care for first responders suffering from 9/11 contaminants; to provide proper long-term funding for medical monitoring; and, to provide a long-term funding plan for those who get sick in the future due to 9/11 exposure.

“Andrew Cuomo is the best-qualified candidate to fight for working families and the health and safety of New York’s fire fighters,” Charles J. Morello, President of the New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association. “Andrew has been a champion for working men and women his entire life. He truly understands that when the federal government shirks its responsibility to provide the necessary equipment to safeguard the men and women who perform life-saving work for New York, that the Attorney General must be there to fight for us. He has spent his entire life taking on big fights and we know he will be there for all of us as Attorney General.”

“Today is a great day for our campaign,” said Attorney General candidate Andrew Cuomo. “I am humbled and honored to earn the support of New York’s Professional Firefighters who put their lives on the line to protect New Yorkers from danger. Unlike these brave men and women who selflessly put their duty above their own safety to protect us, the federal government and the Bush administration have failed in their duty to protect them. As Attorney General I will stand up to the federal government to ensure that it restores funds for the vital equipment needed to protect them and adequately funds a medical treatment program for all first responders.”

Posted By Roundup Newswires.com Editor Brian Harrod