Issue Position: Homeland Security - Fighting for More Anti-Terror Money for NYC
Issue Position
Issue Position: Homeland Security - Fighting for More Anti-Terror Money for NYC
Following the recent 40% cut in New York's homeland security funding, I proposed legislation to reform the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grants program to avoid future reductions to high-threat cities like New York. The legislation, the Urban Area Security Initiative Grant Enhancement and Authorization Act (H.R. 5595), would require all UASI grants to be distributed based only on risk (defined as threat, vulnerability and consequences) and eliminate all needs-based variables. For instance, a locality is currently eligible for funding if it can prove it needs a haz-mat truck even though it does not face the threat of a chemical, biological or radiological attack. Under the legislation, that locality would not receive funding. UASI is clearly broken, and this bill would fix its shortcomings by requiring every dollar be directed to cities that face legitimate threats.
I also criticized the decision by the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide only a slight increase in high-threat funding for New York City for Fiscal Year 2007.
New York is expected to receive a total of $134 million in Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grants for Fiscal Year 2007 - an increase of 8% vs. last year but $73 million less than the city received the previous year, according to published reports. UASI funding for the City was slashed 40% in Fiscal Year 2006 vs. 2005.
The slight increase for this year can be attributed, in part, to an amendment I help author that boosted overall UASI funding by $20 million, to $770 million for FY 2007.
Lastly, I recently teamed up with Congressmen Joseph Crowley, Doris Matsui and Scott Garrett to introduce and pass an amendment in the House that adds $50 million in funding for UASI. The measure, which passed the House 244-174 as an amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill for FY 2008, increases total funding under UASI to $850 million for FY 2008 - an increase of $80 million over last year's level.
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