WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV issued the following statement today after the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction announced that it will not meet its deadline to recommend a proposal to reduce America’s debt marking another lost opportunity to pass public safety communications legislation:

“I am troubled by the super committee’s failure to make good on their promise to deliver a deficit-reduction plan for America.  Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison and I recommended that the super committee include S.911, the Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act in their proposal.  This bill would not only reduce the federal deficit by at least $6.5 billion but also provide first responders with a life-saving communications network and spur billions of dollars in economic investment.  Winning ideas like S.911 cannot keep falling victim to this partisan stubbornness.  I will continue to pursue all avenues to get S.911 enacted this year.” 

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