Titus: DHS Announcement Seriously Undermines Future Counterterrorism Efforts

Press Release

Today Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada's First District released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announcement that the Las Vegas Urban Area (LVUA)'s funding for counterterrorism activities has been cut for FY2013.

The announcement follows the adjustment of LVUA's Relative Risk Profile ranking from 30 to 33, a modification that reduced the likelihood of LVUA to receive Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) program funds. In response to the changes to Las Vegas's Relative Risk Profile, Titus sent two letters to DHS Secretary Napolitano expressing her serious concerns about the modification. Last week, Titus and Napolitano discussed the matter over the phone and Titus once again urged the Secretary to reconsider DHS's counterterrorism funding decisions and take immediate action to ensure Las Vegas receives the counterterrorism funding necessary to mitigate future risks.

"This announcement seriously undermines our future counterterrorism efforts," said Congresswoman Titus, a former Member of the Homeland Security Committee. "As the recent events in Boston show, terrorists' threats remain. We must be ever mindful of danger and provide funding for our urban areas with an eye to future threats, taking into account the rising number of visitors who are coming to Las Vegas for business and recreation. As I wrote to Secretary Napolitano, counterterrorism funding decisions should be made using forward looking, risk-based metrics that reflect the true purpose of the funding -- mitigating the risk of future attacks. I will continue to press the Department of Homeland Security to correct the methodology used to better reflect the unique nature of Las Vegas, and meanwhile if UASI funds are not available, I will work with DHS to find other sources of funding."

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