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Conference Committee Cuts First Responder Grants, Restores Transit Security Funding
by Ed Somers and Ron Thaniel
October 3, 2005
On September 29, the House'senate Appropriations conferees approved the fiscal year 2006 Homeland Security Appropriations Conference Report. While complete details on the package are not yet available, it is clear that some key programs have been cut from last year. For example, funding for first responder block grants has been cut from $1.1 billion to $550 million, and funding for high-threat urban areas has been cut from $860 million to $765 million. Over the last year, some in Congress have argued that because states have failed to spend previously approved federal homeland security funding, it is acceptable to cut these programs.
Of note, the conferees restored transit and rail security to fiscal year 2005 levels by agreeing to the House level of $150 million.
Exactly one week after the terrorist bombings on the London mass transit system July 7th killing more than 50 people and injuring hundreds, the Senate approved their version of the appropriations bill by including only $100 million for transit and rail security.
The Conference had urged the Senate to increase transit security to at least $1.2 billion, which nearly follows what was set in S. 2884, the “Public Transportation Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004”. The full Senate passes S. 2884 during the 108th Congress, but the House did not act on the measure.
The Conference is urging OMB to increase transit and rail security to at least $1.2 billion in the fiscal year 2007 budget. Transit agencies working with mayors have identified $6 billion in transit security needs; and yet since September 11, 2001, public transportation and rail have received only $250 million in targeted federal security.
Following are highlights available on the bill:
Office for Domestic Preparedness
A total of $3,346,300,000 is recommended for first responder grants and assistance, including:
$550,000,000 for state and local assistance grants;
$765,000,000 for high-threat urban areas;
$400,000,000 for local law enforcement terrorism prevention grants;
$175,000,000 for port security grants;
$150,000,000 for rail and transit security grants;
$50,000,000 for buffer zone protection plan grants;
$50,000,000 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program;
$40,000,000 for grants to States to implement the REAL ID Act of 2005;
$145,000,000 for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium;
$30,000,000 for demonstration training grants;
$655,000,000 for firefighter assistance grants, of which $110,000,000 is for SAFER Act grants; and
$185,000,000 for emergency management performance grants.
Transportation Security Administration
A total of $5,915,065,000 is recommended for securing transportation, including:
$2,543,654,000 for passenger and baggage screener workforce;
$165,000,000 for checkpoint support;
$175,000,000 for the procurement of explosive detection and trace systems, of which $45,000,000 is for the procurement and deployment of next generation explosive detection systems, including in-line systems;
$55,000,000 for air cargo security;
$8,000,000 for the safety and security of the Nation’s railways;
$4,000,000 for monitoring and tracking trucks carrying hazardous materials; and
$$686,200,000 for the Federal Air Marshals, which was previously funded under Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Research and development funding for next generation explosive detection systems and air cargo have been transferred to Science and Technology.
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