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Schumer Announces Legislation to Fix Homeland Security Funding "New System Would be 100% Risk Based"

Date: June 6, 2006
Issues: National Security


SCHUMER ANNOUNCES LEGISLATION TO FIX HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING - NEW SYSTEM WOULD BE 100% RISKED-BASED

In Light of Last Week's Announcement that DHS Cut NYC's High Threat Funding by More than 40 percent, Schumer Demands New Formula Based Entirely On Risk

Schumer To Seek Funding From Other Sources To Level Playing Field for New York

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today announced he will introduce new legislation mandating that High Threat Grants be allocated exclusively based on risk. (need filler on what happens now versus what would happen under our bill)

"When I met with Secretary Chertoff before he was confirmed, he promised me and the people of New York the game-playing with money would stop," Schumer said. "Last week's announcement shows a betrayal at the top and it's time to get serious about preventing a terrorist attack. We need to get to fix this process right now, because it defies all logic and reason that the Bush Administration could think that New York City is no longer facing a significant threat."

Schumer today also announced he would seek funding from other sources at the federal level to compensate for the losses New York suffered under the recent DHS announcements. Schumer is closely examining grant programs located in the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and Transportation in order to rectify the shortfall.

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security released funding allocations for its major state and local grant programs, including the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP), and the High Threat Urban Areas Program (UASI) that gives money only to high threat urban areas. Funding for New York State and New York City was cut significantly from FY2005 to FY2006.

Specifically for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), the high threat money actually given out by the program was cut from $829.7 million in FY2005 to $710.6 million for FY2006, or a 14 percent drop. However, New York City's allocation was slashed by 40 percent, from $207.6 million in FY2005 to only $124.5 million. In FY2005, New York City received 25 percent of the high threat funding, but for FY2006, New York City will only recieve18 percent of the funding.

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/2006/PR166.HSledge.060606.html

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