NORTHERN NEW JERSEY UASI FUNDING INCREASED TO $36M

STATE HOMELAND GRANT FUNDING HIKED 44 %

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) expressed encouragement after being informed today that the Jersey City/Newark Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) region will receive a five percent increase in grant funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  The region’s allocation will now rise to $36,070,000.  In addition, New Jersey’s share of funding under the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) and the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program (LETPP) will increase forty-four percent to $24,160,000.

“In light of the administration’s dubious National Intelligence Estimate report, I am encouraged that the Homeland Security Department is finally realizing the real risks and vulnerabilities facing our state.  But I remain troubled that New York City is again being funded at an inadequate level.  The entire New York metropolitan region is inextricably linked, and so must be our access to prudent federal homeland security funding.”

Pascrell, the former leading Democratic member of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, has led Congress in demanding that the administration allocate homeland security grant funding based on risk.

Today, Congress is expected to move H.R. 1, the “Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007” to a conference committee.  Title I of the legislation would substantially increase the share of homeland security grants that are provided to states based on risk and threat.

“Congress is on track to implement the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation and permanently change homeland security grant allocation so that high risk regions receive adequate resources.  It is long past time that we take a more intelligent approach to securing America, and this 9/11 Commission bill provides it.”   

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