Letter to John Carter, Chairman, Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Committee on Appropriations - Increased Security Funding for Urban Areas

Letter

Dear Chairman Hoeven, Ranking Member Shaheen, Chairman Carter, and Ranking Member Roybal-Allard:

We thank the Committee for its past support for state and local preparedness grants. The Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Program is critical because it assists high-threat, high-density urban areas in efforts to build and sustain the capabilities necessary to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other threats. These grant programs are the primary funding mechanism for building and sustaining national preparedness capabilities. In FY15 and FY16, the committee approved $600 million for UASI as part of the State and Local Programs in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) budget. The FY17 President's Budget cuts the UASI program by $270 million, a decrease of 45 percent in funding in one year. Therefore, as you prepare for the Fiscal Year 2017 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill, we respectfully request that the Committee appropriate no less than $600 million or the highest funding possible for UASI

The proposed cuts to this program do not reflect the needs of urban areas, which are proposed at a time when more attention is needed to adapt to a changing threat environment in the wake of the events in San Bernardino, CA, Garland, TX and Aurora, CO. The Homeland Security FY17 President's Budget includes funding for efforts to counter violent extremism (CVE), to help states and local communities prepare for, prevent, and respond to emergent threats from complex coordinated terrorist attacks. While the newly created Department of Homeland Security's Office for Community Partnerships (OCP) becomes operational, grants to local communities for countering violent extremism may come from UASI. However, a precipitous decline in UASI funds will not be sufficient to meet the current needs of frontline responders and new CVE efforts, which would cause a gap in our capabilities.

Secretary Jeh Johnson, testifying before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs stated that "building trusted partnerships with diverse communities is essential to successfully countering violent extremism and curbing threats to the safety of our country. These communities must be empowered to reach those individuals most susceptible to the slick internet appeal of ISIL before they turn to violence." This is why Department of Homeland Security grant programs to states and local communities are so crucial - these citizens are on the frontline of a number of threats to their local communities.

Finally, New Jersey, in addition to neighboring New York, is home to "the most dangerous two miles in America." This stretch of potentially vulnerable targets include Newark Liberty International Airport, Port Newark/Elizabeth, which is the third largest port in the country and the largest port on the East Coast, critical passenger and freight rail lines, chemical and petroleum plants, New Jersey's stretch of I-95, all situated next to some of the state's most densely populated cities. UASI, as you know supports metro areas, including Newark and enhances the state's overall security and preparedness by providing funding to train, equip, and pay overtime costs to first responders who are on the front lines of our local counterterrorism and complex crisis response.

We recognize your commitment to ensuring our critical homeland security funds are spent responsibly and efficiently. We are confident this critically important program will provide our communities with the necessary support to continue to counter violent extremism and protect our homeland. Thank you for your consideration and for your continued commitment to our nation's security.

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