FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 3, 2004

Contact: Ben Allen (202) 225-4361

Sweeney, Serrano Help Secure $214 Million for

New York in Urban Area Homeland Security Funds, Bloomberg Praises Congressmen

 

 

December 3, 2004,

Washington, DC -New York Congressmen José E. Serrano (D) and John E. Sweeney (R) have succeeded in securing close to $214 million for

New York City under the Department of Homeland Security’s Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).  This is nearly a five-fold increase from last year’s allocation of $47 million for

New York under the program, which saw an overall budget increase from $675 million to nearly $855 million from FY 04 to FY 05. 

 

 

             

 

 

Sweeney and Serrano are the only New Yorkers on either of the House’s or the Senate’s Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittees.  They were able to use their positions on the committee to apply steady pressure on the Homeland Security Department to consider potential threat factors more heavily when determining allocations under the urban security funds program.

 

 

 

 

 

"I am so pleased to announce this tremendous security funds increase for

New York ," said Serrano.  "Finally, the Homeland Security Department is coming around to understand something New Yorkers have understood for a long time—that cities that face a disproportionately high risk of terrorist attack deserve an appropriately high amount of homeland security funding and support.  Cities like

New York play a vital role in the economic and cultural life of our nation, but are more at risk as a result.  I'm glad I was able to work with my friend Congressman Sweeney to make sure the federal government chips in its fair share to make New York a safer place."

 

 

 

 

 

 “We have long been fighting to send funds where they are needed most in order to prevent another terrorist attack on American soil,” said Sweeney.  “I’m pleased the Department of Homeland Security is beginning to take this matter seriously and distributing more anti-terror funds to our most vulnerable cities.  We need to give our highest-threat areas the resources they need to protect our citizens and respond effectively and immediately in the event of an emergency.  I will continue, along with my colleague Congressman Serrano, to lead the fight to ensure sufficient funds are made available to protect our homeland.”

 

 

 

 

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg praised the work of Sweeney and Serrano, saying, “The latest allocations from the Department of Homeland Security's Urban Area Security Initiative mean more homeland security money is going where it should go, to the cities that face the highest risk of terrorist attack. The $166 million

New York City will directly receive is more than any other city, by far the most we have ever gotten from this program---almost four times as much as we received last year.  This will help us fund the Police Department's ongoing counter-terrorism and intelligence operations and help us protect

New York City , which everyone acknowledges is a prime target for terrorists.  I would like to thank Representatives John Sweeney and José Serrano, both members of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, for their hard work and leadership on this vital issue.  I will continue to work with Congress and urge them to abandon the per-capita formula that distributes the majority of homeland security funds like political pork, as opposed to on the basis of threat.”

 

 

 

 

 

While

New York experienced the largest increase in the new UASI grants (a $47 million - $214 million jump), areas such as

Los Angeles ($28 million to $65 million) and the National Capitol Region ($29 million to $82 million) also saw significant gains in funding.  These gains were largely due to the Homeland Security Department heeding the calls of Congressmen Sweeney and Serrano, as well as Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA), who argued forcefully in committee and in private meetings with Homeland Security officials that high-threat areas such as New York have unique homeland security challenges that cannot be quantified only by population and/or geographical size. 

 

 

 

 

 

In all,

New York

State will receiving nearly $300 million in Homeland Security grants this year, more than any other state in the nation. 

New York City is receiving a total of $207.6 million from UASI through the State, along with $6.3 million that will go to at-risk nonprofit organizations in the City to assist with improving their security.   Of the $207.6 million,

New York City government will directly receive $166 million, with the additional $41.6 million going to the State government for homeland security projects specifically in

New York City .

 

 

 

 

In addition, the Congressmen issued the following statement on the appointment of Bernard Kerik as Secretary of Homeland Security:

 

 

 

 

 

“With Bernard Kerik at the helm of the Department of Homeland Security,

New York will have another powerful friend in

Washington to ensure our needs are met.  We look forward to working very closely with Mr. Kerik to help defend

New York and the nation against 's enemies and protect our freedom and way of life.”