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President Obama is correct: the time for immediate action to avert the fiscal cliff is here.

As the longest-serving female Member of Congress, Senator Barbara Mikulski has always been a trailblazer and will now make history once more as the first woman to chair the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. Im proud to call Senator Mikulski my colleague and friend and to serve the State of Maryland with such an outstanding advocate for its communities. I join in congratulating her on this achievement, and I look forward to working with her as she continues to serve families in Maryland and across the country in this leadership role.

Thanks to the coordinated efforts of federal, state, and local partners, Prince Georges County has seen a historic reduction in crime rates over this past year. With a 7.1% decrease in overall crime, a 35% reduction in homicides, and 2,240 fewer victims of crimes compared to 2011, Prince Georges County residents are benefitting from safer and stronger neighborhoods.

The issue is not giving up salary. The issue is giving up positions that are strongly held and agreeing to compromise on a solution.

As you conference with the Senate to reach an agreement on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2013, we urge you to retain provisionsin the Senate passed bill to reauthorize funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant (SAFER) and U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).