By Ed Somers
March 31, 2003

Included in the $74.7 billion war supplemental submitted to Congress by President Bush last week is $1.4 billion for local homeland security, with the majority of the funding sent through the states. The President's request includes a total of $4.25 billion for homeland security and funds federal activities such as the Coast Guard and border protection, with $2 billion for state and local governments as follows:

• $1.5 billion for first responder grants to the states (of which 80 percent or $1.2 billion is to be sent by the states to local governments);
• $450 million for critical infrastructure protection including overtime (of which 33 percent or $150 million is to be sent by the states to local governments);
• $50 million for metropolitan areas at high risk, to be defined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Conference President Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino had previously written to President Bush requesting additional first responder funding, and said following the release of the supplemental request, "Mayors are pleased that President Bush, recognizing the needs of the nation's cities, has proposed some additional homeland security funding for first responders." Menino added, "There are improvements that should be made to this proposal. The proposal funnels money through state houses, which is an inefficient way to get desperately needed funding to our local police, fire and emergency medical personnel quickly. Direct, flexible, and sufficient funding is what is needed now."

Also commenting on the proposal was Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, recently appointed by Menino to chair a new Conference of Mayors Homeland Security Task Force, who said, "Our first responders deserve more help with fewer strings. We hope Congress will address these issues when it takes up the supplemental appropriations bill."

Concern Raised in Congress Over State Delays

Congress last week began to debate the supplemental request, with formal hearings held March 27. Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Senator Robert Byrd (WV) led off his questioning of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge by raising serious concern with reported state delays in getting money to cities. Senator Byrd said, "my question to you is, if it is taking so long for states to get the money to our cities and our first responders, why does the Administration request that ODP funds go to the states and not directly to the local jurisdictions?" Senator Byrd also referred to a new survey released by the Conference which shows that cities are spending $70 million per week on additional homeland security due to the war and heightened threat alert (see related story).

Secretary Ridge responded by admitting there have been problems with state plans, which the Department is working to address, but did not change his position on funding going through the states.

Markup Scheduled for April 1 — Action Needed

Both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees have tentatively scheduled markups of the supplemental bill for Tuesday, April 1. Therefore, it is critically important that mayors continue to contact their Congressional delegations — particularly those Senators and Representatives on the Appropriations Committees — to urge that the funding be increased, with a majority going directly to cities. It is also important to stress that the funding must be flexible to cover costs such as equipment, training and overtime.