Smith Lauds Risk Based Formula for Homeland Security Grants, says Change will Benefit New Jersey

Smith Lauds Risk Based Formula for Homeland Security Grants, says Change will Benefit New Jersey
January 3, 2006

Risk assessment based funding system long overdue and will make America safer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) praised the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for linking federal grant money to risk and threat assessments. Earlier this morning, the DHS announced that $765 million in funding for high threat urban areas as part of the fiscal year 2006 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) would be made available to help cities and communities prepare for the possibility of a terrorist attack. The initiative will provide funds for equipment, training, and exercises for higher threat areas.

As the Dean of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, Smith has helped lead the effort to ensure that the DHS awards homeland security grants to states and first responders based on the assets, threat assessments and the risks citizens and visitors face. In 2003, when DHS released its first round of grants from its Urban Area Security Initiative, which was supposed to be based purely on risk assessment, New Jersey was cut out because that formula did not account for areas other than cities. Smith arranged a full delegation meeting with then Undersecretary of Homeland Security Asa Hutchinson, the New Jersey consolidated metropolitan area - including Newark, Jersey City and six contiguous counties - was created.

"We have consistently argued that the Department of Homeland Security's grant system was flawed and needed to focus on critical infrastructure and risk rather than a simple population count, so Secretary Chertoff's announcement is a big step in the right direction, said Smith. "Finally, more homeland security funding will be made available to the people who need it most, those facing the highest risk."

The September 11th Commission recommended in its final report that all funding be made risk based, and Smith noted that the House of Representatives quickly passed a separate bill (HR 1544) that would have followed that guidance. "Homeland security assistance should be based strictly on an assessment of risks and vulnerabilities," concluded the Commission. Unfortunately, the House passed bill - which would have greatly benefited New Jersey - died in the Senate.

"Today's announcement sends a message to all of my colleagues in Congress that homeland security is a top priority and must not be turned into pork barrel projects," Smith said.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/nj04_smith/prdhsuasigrants.html