Schumer Calls on Feds to Increase NYC Share of Security Funding from Other Sources to Recompensate High-Threat Shortchange

SCHUMER CALLS ON FEDS TO INCREASE NYC SHARE OF SECURITY FUNDING FROM OTHER SOURCES TO RECOMPENSE HIGH-THREAT SHORTCHANGE

DHS Has Yet to Give out Critical Funding from Other Grant Programs - including Money to Protect Subways, Ports, and Other Key Sites and Landmarks

Schumer: NYC Needs to be Compensated for Dramatic Cut

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today asked Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to increase funding for New York City from other programs in order to offset cuts New York City received in high threat funding. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security announced funding allocations for state and local grant programs, including funding for high threat urban areas, but still has not determined how much funding New York City, and other cities, will receive from its other major grant programs, including critical funding for mass transit systems, ports, and other critical infrastructure. Schumer said that the additional funding from these programs would go a long way toward closing gaping holes in security funding that still exist in New York.

"The bottom line is we cannot let our guard down and, through these other programs, the Administration has a way to make this right," Schumer said. "New York City is under constant terrorist threat and we need to ensure that there is enough support coming in to protect our most vulnerable and important targets."

In his letter to Chertoff, Schumer specifically asked the Secretary to increase New York City's allocation from the Port Security Grant Program, Rail and Transit Security Grant Program, and the Buffer Zone Protection Plan grant program. Although these funds were appropriated late last year, DHS still has not issued its final funding allocations. Schumer specifically asked that New York City's share of these programs be increased and that money be used for its original purpose, and not transferred from those programs to other measures.

The Rail and Transit Security Grant program is slated to give out $150 million in total grants this year. Last year, New York City transit operators received $42 million in funding from this program, or 32 percent of the total $141 million pot. This funding goes directly to transit operators in the region to harden targets against a terrorist attack, purchase new security technology, and conduct training programs.

This year, DHS will also give out $175 million in Port Security grants to port operators and local governments. During the last round of grants, the New York City area received only $4 million out of a total $141 million pot, or only 2.8 percent.

Schumer also asked that New York City receive at least 30 percent of the funding for the Buffer Zone Protection Plan program, or $15 million total. This year, the $50 million grant program will give out critical funding to protect, secure, and reduce the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and key sites. Because DHS failed to acknowledge any threats or vulnerabilities at New York City's major landmarks and icons when it decided on how much high threat money to give New York, Schumer said funding from this program would be critical to correcting the loss.

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/PR172.NYC%20Security%20Funding.060706.html