By Laura DeKoven Waxman
January 11, 2010

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano December 8 announced the availability of more than $2.7 billion for the various homeland security grant programs during this fiscal year. On December 11, she announced an additional $253 million for transit security. In most programs the state is the applicant. Among the programs included in the announcement:

• State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)—$842 million to build capabilities at the state and local levels to implement the state homeland security goals and objectives identified in the State Preparedness Report. The 9/11 Act requires states to dedicate 25 percent of SHSP funds to law enforcement terrorism prevention-oriented planning, organization, training, exercise and equipment activities. State allocations appear below. Applications are due April 19.

• Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI)—$832.5 million to enhance regional preparedness by strengthening capabilities in 64 high-threat, high-density urban areas across the country. The 9/11 Act requires states to dedicate 25 percent of UASI funds to law enforcement terrorism prevention-oriented activities. UASI allocations appear below. Applications, which are submitted by the states, are due April 19.

There are three additional programs that are available only to the high-threat, high-density urban areas:

• The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) provides $19 million to support target-hardening activities at nonprofit organizations at high risk of a terrorist attack.

• The Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP) provides 33.6 million to 10 of the designated urban areas to enhance catastrophic incident preparedness in high-risk, high-consequence urban areas and their surrounding regions and support coordination of regional all-hazard planning for catastrophic events.

• The Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) provides $253 million to create a sustainable, risk-based effort to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism, major disasters and other emergencies.

• Operation Stonegarden (OPSG)—$60 million to be awarded competitively to enhance law enforcement and border security operations in states that border Canada (including Alaska) or Mexico and states and territories with international water borders. County governments in border states may apply directly for these funds. Applications are due April 19.

• Metropolitan Medical Response System Program (MMRS)—$39.3 million to enhance and sustain comprehensive regional mass casualty incident response and preparedness capabilities, divided evenly among 124 MMRS jurisdictions. Applications are due April 19.

• Citizen Corps Program (CCP)—$12.4 million to engage citizens in community preparedness, planning, mitigation, response and recovery activities. Applications are due April 19.

• Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) Program—$329 million to assist state and local governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities. Applications are due January 22.

• Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP)—$48 million to assist governments in carrying out initiatives identified in Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans and improve interoperable emergency communications used to respond to natural disasters and acts of terrorism. Applications are due February 12.

• Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program—$57.6 million to support the construction or renovation of Emergency Operations Centers to improve state, local or tribal emergency management and preparedness capabilities to ensure continuity of operations during disasters. Of the funds available, only $10,157,500 will be awarded competitively to eligible state, local, or tribal government's principal EOCs as the rest has been earmarked by Congress. Applications are due February 12.

• Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP)—$48 million to increase preparedness capabilities for safeguarding critical infrastructure sites and key resource assets, such as chemical facilities and nuclear power plants, through planning and equipment acquisition. Applications are due February 12.

• Driver's License Security Grant Program (DLSGP)—$48 million to help states and territories improve security of state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards in order to prevent terrorism, reduce fraud and enhance the reliability and accuracy of personal identification documents. Applications are due February 12.

• Port Security Grant Program (PSGP)—$288 million to help protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness and strengthen risk management capabilities in order to protect against improvised explosive devices and other non-conventional weapons; conduct training and exercises; and implement the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). Identified ports may apply directly for these funds. Applications are due February 12.

The omnibus appropriations bill includes two provisions relating to firearms:

• Consistent with the Administration's proposal contained in its FY 2010 budget submission, the contents of the Firearms Trace System database may be shared with federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, but that data may not be disclosed publicly.

• Amtrak passengers will be permitted to include an unloaded firearm or starter pistol in their checked luggage under certain circumstances. This provision takes effect within one year of enactment.

Allocations for other programs and additional information are available at http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/grant-program-overview-fy2010.pdf.