Homeland Security

November 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - The Strengthening and Updating Resources and Equipment (SURE) Act, which was introduced by Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy on October 16th, was passed today by the House Committee on Homeland Security.

The SURE Act, which will allow first responders to maintain the capabilities necessary to prepare and protect their communities against acts of terrorism and other emergencies, has gained the support of 25 cosponsors including Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Bennie Thompson.    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the final deployment of non-intrusive scanning equipment to detect radiation emanating from materials used in nuclear devices at all Northern border land ports of entry—a major security milestone completed two months ahead of schedule that reflects Secretary Napolitano’s ongoing commitment to strong, layered security at the U.S.-Canada border.

“Securing our Northern border while facilitating legitimate travel and trade requires a strategic combination of technology, personnel and infrastructure,” said Secretary Napolitano. “This technology enhances our capability to guard against terrorism and criminal threats while expediting border crossings for lawful trade and travel.”    » read more »

Testimony of Alex Garza, MD,MPH, Office of Health Affairs; Richard Serino,FEMA; Marcy Forman, ICE before U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats,Cybersecurity and Science & Technology on "Real-Time Assessment of the Federal Response to Pandemic"

October 27, 2009 -- Cannon House Office Building -- (Written Testimony)    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Congressman Keith Ellison (D-Minneapolis) secured a $750,000 appropriation for the City of Minneapolis to build a new Emergency Operations Center in a bill approved by the House today. The funds were included in H.R. 2892, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill for FY 2010.

The bill is expected to easily pass the Senate and will be signed into law by President Obama. The current Operations Center was used to coordinate the local, state, and federal emergency response to the August 2007 collapse of the Interstate 35W Bridge in Minneapolis.    » read more »

Legislation, crafted in part by Congressman Rothman, brings over $4 million in congressionally-directed security funding to New Jersey

October 15, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) – Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2892, the Fiscal Year 2010 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Conference Report, which was authored by Congressman Rothman and fellow members of the Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee.

This spending measure determines all federal funding for the Department of Homeland Security, including, but not limited to, supporting our first responders, investing in border security and securing our nation’s mass transit, our sea, rail and airports.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 - WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman John P. Murtha, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a $42.8 billion fiscal year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill that includes funding for the Westmoreland County Alternate Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

The House and Senate conferenced this bill, which must now be passed by the full Senate before heading to the President for his signature. The House passed the bill 307-114.    » read more »

Major Boost For High Threat Areas, Transit, And Ports; House and Senate Set to Approve DHS Funding Bill Next Weeks

October 9, 2009 -- (New York, NY) – In light of Najibullah Zazi’s efforts to stage a terrorist attack against New York City's mass transit system, U.S. Representative Joseph Crowley and U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that New York City is in line to receive millions in additional security funding to protect our city against terrorist attacks.    » read more »

October 7, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - House and Senate negotiators today reached agreement on the Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, paving the way for its final approval and delivery to the President for his signature. As the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Congressman David Price (D-NC) was responsible for drafting and shepherding the bill through the House of Representatives and was one of the lead negotiators at today’s conference committee.

Today’s agreement resolved the remaining differences between the versions of the bill passed in the House and Senate.    » read more »

August 28, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today announced this year's homeland security grant awards to state agencies and communities across Colorado, providing $19.3 million to be administered by the Governor's Office of Homeland Security.

Over 80 percent of the funds awarded will go to counties and local jurisdictions throughout Colorado to support local first responders and homeland security initiatives. The funded projects will improve the state's preparedness for man-made or natural disasters.    » read more »

Funding Represents a 14.6 Percent Increase from 2008 Funds; More Than $145 Million for New York City; Rochester Awarded a Record 57.4 Percent Funding Increase

June 18, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded New York State more than $283 million in federal homeland security funding, including more than $145 million for the New York City area.

This allotment totals $36,133,877 more than the 2008 funds distributed to New York, a 14.6 percent increase from 2008 funding levels. Each year, this funding helps communities and first responders across the State to better prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and other emergencies.    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- The United States Department of Homeland Security today announced this year's Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) awards and that the State of Colorado will be receiving approximately $19.2 million, which will be administered by the Governor's Office of Homeland Security.

More than 80 percent of the funds awarded will go to counties and local jurisdictions throughout Colorado to support local first responders and homeland security initiatives. The funded projects will improve the state's preparedness for a man-made or natural disaster.    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today nearly $1.8 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) preparedness grants designed to help states, urban areas, tribal governments and non-profit agencies improve their readiness by enhancing protection, prevention, response and recovery capabilities for all disasters. Secretary Napolitano was joined by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate in announcing the grants.    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that Washington state will receive over $30 million in federal Homeland Security Grant funding made possible through the Fiscal Year 2009 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.

The money will be used to help Washington state communities pay for emergency equipment, strengthen border security, improve their emergency coordination efforts, and prepare for a regional catastrophe.    » read more »

June 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel K. Inouye and Senate Homeland Security Committee senior member Daniel K. Akaka announced today that the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawaii has been awarded more than $4.8 million for Fiscal Year 2009 by the Department of Homeland Security.

The center provides high quality disaster training to ensure that island communities throughout the Pacific are ready and able to respond, recover, and reconstruct after catastrophes. U.H. has one of seven federally funded FEMA National Domestic Preparedness sites nationwide.    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Daniel K. Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye announced today that Hawaii will receive more than $12.6 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to strengthen the State's preparation, prevention, and disaster response capabilities:

* State Homeland Security Grant Program - the State of Hawaii will receive over $6.5 million to further invest in homeland security planning, equipment, and training.
* Urban Areas Security Initiative - the City and County of Honolulu will receive more than $4.7 million to further develop urban homeland security capabilities.    » read more »