LAUTENBERG, MENENDEZ: NO TIME TO CUT NJ HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS

LAUTENBERG, MENENDEZ: NO TIME TO CUT NJ HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS
NJ Sens. Condemn Bush Admin. for Reducing State’s Funding for Critical Security Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced that New Jersey will receive more than $73.6 million in homeland security grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but criticized President Bush and DHS for reducing the funds New Jersey receives for a critical risk-based urban security program.

“The Bush Administration just doesn’t get it.  New Jersey is home to the most at-risk two miles for terrorism in the country.  While some of our programs received an increase this year, this is no time to cut homeland security funding for our urban areas,” Lautenberg said.  “This is another example of the Bush Administration ignoring critical needs here at home while spending $3 billion a week in Iraq.”

“The good news for New Jersey’s security is that the positive reforms the Democratic Congress made to the state security grants have resulted in increased security funding that goes directly to our state government out of that program,” Menendez said.  “Unfortunately, the Bush administration’s decision to cut the funding that goes directly to New Jersey’s highest-threat cities shows that they still don’t fully grasp that security resources need to go to areas where the risk is most real. That is fundamental to security here it home, and seven years after 9/11, the administration should have gotten it right by now. The next administration has to better understand our security needs here in the nation’s most densely-populated state, which includes two of the nation’s five biggest metropolitan areas. I also continue to be concerned that areas of South Jersey within shouting distance of Center City Philadelphia are not even included in the program for high-threat cities – that’s a glaring and dangerous omission.”

New Jersey will receive $34,988,000 for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), a $1 million decrease from last year’s funding level of $36,070,000.  UASI is a risk-based program that helps protect high-density and high-threat urban areas, such as Newark and Jersey City, by improving their ability to prevent, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism. 
    
New Jersey will also receive $38,703,752 in additional federal funds for four other homeland security programs:

* $27,780,000 to the State Homeland Security Program, which state-based homeland security strategies to help municipalities in New Jersey plan, equip and train emergency personnel to respond to acts of terrorism;

* $9,921,750 to the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program, which helps law enforcement prevent terrorism by coordinating with non-law enforcement, government agencies and the private sector;

* $359,560 to the Citizens Corps Program, which involves residents in prevention, preparedness and response to terrorism, natural disasters and other threats, such as crime and public health; and

* $642,442 to Metropolitan Medical Response System, which helps towns and cities prepare for and respond to mass casualty events.

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