Support For SURE Act Gains Momentum

Press Release

The Strengthening and Updating Resources and Equipment (SURE) Act, which was introduced by Congresswoman Kilroy on October 16th, was passed by the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response today and is expected to be considered by the Homeland Security Committee in the coming weeks.

Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, recently expressed his strong support of the SURE act in a letter to Chairman Bennie G. Thompson. In the letter Bloomberg voiced his concern regarding the new FEMA policy stating, "New York City spends a substantial portion of each homeland security grant on critical equipment that requires maintenance. If this change is implemented, it will significantly impair the ability of the City of New York and other high-threat urban areas to sustain the critical investments that have helped to prevent another catastrophic terrorist attack on the homeland."

The legislation, which will allow first responders to maintain the capabilities necessary to prepare and protect their communities against acts of terrorism and other emergencies, has gained the support of 20 cosponsors including Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Bennie Thompson.

Since 2002, state and local governments have utilized the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) and the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) to purchase highly-technical homeland security equipment. The equipment has provided first responders with the necessary capabilities to safeguard our communities. Homeland security equipment requires annual maintenance and sustainment in order to remain operational. Accordingly, FEMA has allowed state and local governments to use their annual SHSGP and UASI funding to maintain equipment that was purchased in prior fiscal years.

On September 22, 2009, FEMA sharply reversed course and told state and local governments that they would no longer be allowed to use future SHSGP and UASI funding to keep critical homeland security equipment up-to-date.

"The FEMA policy will significantly hurt our first responder community- a group on which we rely to keep our nation safe during emergencies. Many states, including Ohio, have invested millions of federal Homeland Security dollars to purchase critical homeland security equipment not expecting that they would have to use their budgets to maintain it," said Kilroy. "Our nation's security is priority number one, and I refuse to see FEMA needlessly compromise our safety. The SURE Act will overturn FEMA's policy and ensure our first responders have the tools they need to address our nation's 21st century security challenges."

The SURE Act has been formally endorsed by the National Association of Police Organizations, the American Public Works Association and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. The National Governors Association, National Association of Counties, and the National Emergency Management Association. The legislation is expected to gain endorsements from additional cities in the coming weeks.

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