Higgins Offers Amendment to Restore Urban Area Security Initiative Funding

Press Release

Congressman Brian Higgins, Co-Chair of the House of Representatives Preserving Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Capability Gains Caucus, introduced an amendment to the FY 13 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill that would restore funding to communities cut from the UASI program. The amendment was not agreed to by a vote of 150 -- 266.

"The communities removed from the UASI program were done so as a result of funding constraints, but the terror threat in these regions remains very real," said Congressman Higgins. "I am disappointed that this bipartisan amendment did not pass, but I will not stop fighting to ensure that capability gains in these communities are not lost."

This amendment would have increased funding to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's State and Local Program by $58 million to make communities removed from the UASI program, including the Buffalo-Erie-Niagara region, eligible once again. This program prepares major cities with the tools to be prepared for, prevent, and recover from a terrorist attack and other disasters.

Congressman Higgins was joined in introducing this amendment by Co-Chair of the House of Representatives Preserving Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Capability Gains Caucus Rep. Steve Stivers, in addition to Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, Rep. Alcee Hastings, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver and Rep. Doris Matsui.

Earlier this year, Congressman Higgins formed the UASI Capability Gains Caucus to raise awareness about the preparedness and response capability gains achieved by first responders that have received UASI homeland security funding and advance legislation and policies to preserve first responder capability gains achieved through UASI funding. He is also the sponsor of H.R. 3631, the Preserving Urban Area Security Initiative Capability Gains Act, which would authorize a competitive grant program where high-risk jurisdictions that were previously eligible for the UASI program could compete for funding to preserve their homeland security capabilities.

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