U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) New Jersey’s only member of the House Homeland Security Committee today released a statement in reaction to a report that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will increase funding for transit, port and infrastructure security in New Jersey:

“After years of mismanaging federal homeland security resources, the administration finally appears committed to protecting the vulnerabilities I have emphasized here in New Jersey and New York.  Secretary Chertoff’s action to double the investment in this region’s cross-state transit networks is responsible and intelligent.  Our daily commute, regional economy and communities depend on safe rails and roadways.  Further, the fortification of our ports and other critical infrastructure is crucial to the national economy and safety of millions of American families.  I am pleased that the administration finally appears to be using risk-factors as the measuring stick to determine homeland security investment.  This is a smart funding model that I hope continues as New Jersey awaits its Urban Area Security Initiative allotment later this year.”
 

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