Stabenow: More Money for Michigan But Much More Left to Do

Stabenow: More Money for Michigan But Much More Left to Do

Stabenow outlines highlights of Homeland Security funding while calling on Congress to do more

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) issued the following statement today following the passage of the FY2006 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.

"Last night the U.S. Senate took a small step towards the goal of ensuring that we are prepared and protected at home as well as abroad.

"The Homeland Security Appropriations Bill will increase the amount of homeland security funding that the state of Michigan receives, and will enable our largest cities to apply for special risk-based metropolitan region grants.

"This bill helps secure Michigan's borders by requiring that equipment and procedures at border entry points effectively and efficiently inspect trash trucks.

"The bill also helps secure Michigan's and the nation's borders with a significant increase in funding to hire additional Border Patrol agents. As a border state, these resources are important to keep our citizens safe from terrorist attack.

"While I am happy that our Michigan cities, law enforcement agencies and first responders will receive additional resources and staffing, I am disappointed that this bill did not take us as far as we need to go.

"Two years ago, the Rudman Commission released a report detailing how much we need to do to prepare and protect our country from a major terrorist incident. Since that time, I have fought to fully fund the priorities outlined by the commission.

"Over the past two days, I offered two amendments to the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill that would have fully funded the recommendations of the Rudman Commission and would have provided our state, our cities and our first responders with the essential equipment and training they need to meet terrorist threats.

"Unfortunately, these amendments failed. Instead, the Senate was repeatedly asked to choose between competing and equally urgent priorities.

"We cannot secure our country by shifting funds from one key priority to another. If we want to truly ensure that our nation is prepared and protected, we must provide adequate resources to the agencies that stand on the front line of our nation's homeland security.

"I will continue to fight to increase funding for our critical homeland security needs and work to ensure that our Michigan families are as protected as they can be."

http://stabenow.senate.gov/press/2005/071505HomelandSecurityFunding.htm