Lowey Statement on Homeland Security Grant Allocations For FY 2006

LOWEY STATEMENT ON HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT ALLOCATIONS FOR FY 2006

Today, the Department of Homeland Security announced allocations for three components of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSPGP) - the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP), the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program (LETPP), and the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI). Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) issued the following statement on the allocations for New York.

"Today's grant allocation announcement by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a blow to New York's efforts to prevent and prepare for another terrorist attack. DHS is simply out of touch with the reality that New York is a terrorist target. While I am pleased this is the first time the Department of Homeland Security has considered risk in SHSGP and LETPP calculations, the overall cuts to these funds will drastically effect how New York prepares for a future attack.

"It is unbelievable that New York, which faces one of the greatest risks for a terrorist attack is only receiving a $124 million allocation in UASI funds this year. USAI is one of our biggest homeland security funding sources and it is being cut by $83 million or almost 40%, from last year's $207 million allocation for New York.

"This is the first time that SHSGP and LETPP have a portion allocated based on risk and New York will receive 4.99% of SHSGP this year, and 6.59% of LETPP funds this year. Although these percentages reflect a slight increase over last year's levels, SHSGP funding is 50% lower this year than last, so New York's actual allocation will decrease dramatically. UASI funds for the state were slashed overall and New York State will get $183.7 million, which is a 20 percent drop from last year. New York State's per capita share of grant funds, which totals $2.78 per person, will drop to an even lower level compared to some rural states, like Wyoming, which will get $14.83 per person this year.

"The House has three times passed legislation I authored to require that threat, vulnerability and consequence are the first criteria when it comes to distributing homeland security grant funds. Only after those grants are distributed would each state's total allocation be evaluated to ensure that it receives a minimum amount of funding. The minimums would be set at .25% of available grant funding for non-border states and .45% for border states.

"The grant funding should not be based on anything other than risk. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress, the Department of Homeland Security and local officials to increase funds for homeland security and make sure we put federal funds where they are needed most."

http://www.house.gov/list/press/ny18_lowey/hs053106.html