U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) New Jersey’s only member of the Homeland Security Committee today announced over $77,783,460 in new federal homeland security funding for New Jersey’s chemical plants, ports, rails, busses and emergency communication infrastructure. 

“As the attempted terrorist attacks of the last few months have reminded us, we need this funding coming to this region,” stated Pascrell.  “We are home to the largest mass transit system in the United States, our ports have been dubbed as the most dangerous two miles in America by some law enforcement agencies. It’s important that DHS continues to uphold its stated commitment to a risk-based homeland security funding model.  Much work remains in securing our area of the nation.  There’s far too much vulnerability in our metropolitan area and more needs to be done to prepare emergency responders for emerging threats in the 21st century.”

Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP)

The TSGP provides grant funding to the nation’s key high-threat urban areas to enhance security measures for their critical transit infrastructure including bus, ferry and rail systems.  The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has been allocated $23,000,000.  New Jersey Transit has been allocated $11,649,328

Port Security Grant Program (PSGP)

The PSGP provides grant funding to port areas for the protection of critical port infrastructure from terrorism.  PSGP funds are primarily intended to assist ports in enhancing maritime domain awareness, enhancing risk management capabilities to prevent, detect, respond to and recover from attacks involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs), weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and other non-conventional weapons, as well as training and exercises and Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) implementation.  The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was awarded $33,839,223. 

Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP)

The IBSGP provides funding to create a sustainable program for the protection of intercity bus systems and the traveling public from terrorism.  The program seeks to assist operators of fixed-route intercity and charter bus services in obtaining the resources required to support security measures such as enhanced planning, facility security upgrades and vehicle and driver protection.  The following New Jersey bus companies received:

Lakeland Bus Lines, Inc has been allocated $202,230
Safety Bus Service, Inc. has been allocated $98,403

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

In addition to the FY 2010 transportation infrastructure security programs, the following FEMA programs have been allocated:

Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP)

IECGP provides governance, planning, training and exercise and equipment funding to states, territories and local governments to carry out initiatives to improve interoperable emergency communications, including communications in collective response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other man-made disasters.  According to the legislation that created IECGP, all proposed activities must be integral to interoperable emergency communications and must be aligned with the goals, objectives and initiatives identified in the grantee’s approved Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans (SCIP).  IECGP also advances DHS near-term priorities that are deemed critical to improving interoperable emergency communications and are consistent with goals and objectives of the National Emergency Communications Plan.  New Jersey has been allocated $1,349,000.

Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program

The purpose of the FY 2009 EOC Grant Program is to improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities by supporting flexible, sustainable, secure and interoperable EOCs with a focus on addressing identified deficiencies and needs.  This program provides funding for construction or renovation of a state or local governments’ principal EOC.  Fully capable emergency operations facilities at the state and local levels are an essential element of a comprehensive national emergency management system and are necessary to ensure continuity of operations and continuity of government in major disasters caused by any hazard.  New Jersey has been allocated $5,347,000, which will be distributed to the following counties:
Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office- $250,000
Union County-$500,000
Morris County-$1,000,000
City of Brigantine- $300,000
City of Hackensack - $300,000
City of Newark - $1,000,000
North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue - $500,000
Township of Irvington - $750,000
Township of Old Bridge - $500,000
Township of South Orange Village - $247,000

Driver’s License Security Grant Program (DLSGP)

The purpose of FY 2009 Driver’s License Security Grant Program is to prevent terrorism, reduce fraud and improve the reliability and accuracy of personal identification documents that states and territories issue.  New Jersey has been allocated $1,098,276

Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP)

The BZPP provides funding to increase the preparedness capabilities of jurisdictions responsible for the safety and security of communities surrounding high-priority pre-designated Tier 1 and Tier 2 critical infrastructure and key resource (CIKR) assets, including chemical facilities, financial institutions, nuclear and electric power plants, dams, stadiums and other high-risk/high-consequence facilities, through allowable planning and equipment acquisition.  New Jersey has been allocated $1,200,000.

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