Department Of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010

Floor Speech

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Mr. COHEN. Madam Chairman, this amendment, which I appreciate being incorporated into the manager's amendment and was also sought in a similar fashion by Mr. Weiner of New York, would include language to increase funding to the Urban Areas Security Initiative Nonprofit Security Grant program. The Urban Areas Security Initiative Nonprofit Security Grant program is an important program that helps fund support for the not-for-profits that could be subject to attack. Nonprofit organizations often are like hospitals, which are vital to our communities' ongoing security and safety, especially if there is an attack that can spread terror and havoc on a community if they are attacked. And if you have research facilities attacked, there are other concerns in the community. The nonprofit entities can include hospitals and historic landmarks.

In my community of Memphis, which I hope has an opportunity to share, there's the Med, there's St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and other great hospitals. New York has many too; and that's why Mr. Weiner, I think, was interested in this. And the terror that could be spread by attacking a museum or a library and sending panic through the community could be very disastrous to the well-being of the people in that community and in the Nation.

So hopefully the increase in this funding will help our cities secure their funds and secure their facilities. I would like to thank the chairman for the addition of the funding and the support for the additional $3 million for the Urban Areas program. I would like to thank Mr. Price and the committee for their work in including it in the manager's amendment.

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