PATERSON—U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08), New Jersey’s only member of Congress on the Homeland Security Committee, today applauded an announcement by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to dramatically increase funding for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Amtrak and freight train operators.

“This dramatic increase in funding to secure New Jersey’s ports and rails represents a fundamental shift in way the Department of Homeland Security does business,” stated Pascrell.  “I am pleased that my fight to move homeland security funding towards a model based on risk, and not politics, is beginning to deliver for New Jersey.  More work needs to be done, but I am pleased with the resources this funding will allow New Jersey’s transportation operators and facility security mangers to invest in.”

Among the $844 million in grants announced today by DHS as part of its Infrastructure Protections Activities (IPA) program were significant blocks of funding for New Jersey’s ports passenger rail lines and freight operators.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will receive $45,503,961 under the Port Security Grant Program to support risk-based efforts to improve access control and credentialing, provide training for disaster-response scenarios and protect against Improvised Explosive Device (IED) threats and other non-conventional attacks.  The $45 million allotment represents an $18 million increase over last year’s Port Authority funding.  

Amtrak and freight rail operators in New Jersey will receive $175,380,995 in funding from the Transit Security Grant Program to support sustainable risk-based efforts to protect critical freight and intercity passenger rail services, particularly against explosives and non-conventional threats. Amtrak and freight funding increased $114 million dollar over last year’s allotment.

Intercity bus and charter bus operators serving Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) jurisdictions in New Jersey will receive $2,401,766 in funds under the Intercity Bus Security Grant Program.  Funding will be invested in the development of vulnerability assessments and security plans plus IED prevention and detection and antiterrorism training.  DeCamp Bus Lines, Coach USA, Academy Express, Lakeland Bus Lines, STARR Tours and Stout’s Charter Service are among the bus companies in line to receive grant awards.

Chemical facilities, financial institutions, nuclear and electric power plants, dams, stadiums and other high risk facilities in New Jersey will receive $995,000 under the Buffer Zone Protection Program, a slight decrease from last year’s funding level of $1.5 million.

“Security experts stir our greatest fears when they proclaim New Jersey as home to America’s most dangerous two miles.  It is an infamous title that I am working in Washington and in New Jersey with our first responders to shed once and for all.  Increased security funding is an important first step in mitigating the urgent threats located right here in our backyard.  I will continue fighting to increase chemical facility security funding and ensure that New Jersey’s tough regulations are never degraded to the looser federal standards.”

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