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Homeland Security Announces $1.7B in Grants
The U.S. Homeland Security Department yesterday unveiled the majority of its $1.7 billion fiscal 2007 counterterrorism and disaster preparedness grants, directing nearly a quarter of the funding toward six high-risk urban areas (see GSN, July 18). Including this fiscal year, the agency since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has distributed $23 billion to support local and state planning, organization, equipment, training and drills. Homeland Security Grant Program funding is spread across “Our goal is to effectively manage risk in a way that lessens the vulnerability of the entire country, while preparing the nation to respond effectively to major catastrophes,” Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a statement. “The department remains committed to directing resources to areas that are most at risk” (U.S. Homeland Security Department release I, July 18). There have already been complaints from some of those areas deemed most at risk for terrorism that more money is needed for security. The funding should not be taken for granted, Chertoff said. He warned against expectations that the high-risk areas would always be given large funding amounts, the Washington Post reported. Grant funding for state and local programs is down by roughly $1 billion since 2004 (Hsu/Sheridan, Washington Post, July 19). The majority of the fiscal 2007 grant funding was divided between three programs: — The Urban Area Security Initiative provided $746.9 million to 45 urban areas for planning, equipment, training and exercise needs. This includes the funding for the six target regions. — The State Homeland Security Program allocated $509.3 million to help states and territories implement security strategies and fund planning, equipment, and training exercises for states and localities. — The Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program distributed $363.8 million to states and territories for law enforcement and public safety counterterrorism programs. Funding for two other programs was announced in January. The Metropolitan Medical Response System divided $32 million equally between 124 jurisdictions to help them establish and sustain “all-hazards” preparedness for disasters ranging from terrorism to a disease outbreak to a major hazardous materials situation. The Citizen Corps Program in fiscal 2007 provided $14.6 million to states and territories to involve citizens and volunteers in emergency preparedness, planning and response efforts (Homeland Security Department release I, July 18). The Homeland Security and Commerce departments yesterday also announced $968 million in separate grants to fix emergency communication vulnerabilities made apparent during responses to the terrorist attacks in 2001 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Post reported. The Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grants would fund new voice, video and data communication systems for first response agencies in “When disaster strikes, first responders must have the tools to communicate,” Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said in a statement. “Under this streamlined program, states will be given grants to use technology that will make our cities and states safer” (U.S. Homeland Security Department release II, July 18). The The communication funding distribution is “totally unacceptable,” said House Homeland Security intelligence subcommittee Chairwoman Jane Harman (D-Calif.). She argued the money should be focused on areas facing the most significant threat of a terrorist attack, the Post reported. “Scattering these grants around the country … may help some jurisdictions buy a few new radios. It may thus make good politics. But it will not cover the targeted investments required for true national interoperability,” she said (Washington Post).
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