Thursday, May 25, 2006                                                                                   Printable Version (PDF)

 

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (CA-5) spoke on the House floor on the impact of the limited resources to the $34.5 billion Homeland Security Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2007 (H.R.5441).  As a result, grant programs Sacramento relies on, like the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant and the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program (LETPP) grant saw funding cuts. 

 

“While I was pleased to see overall funding increases for Homeland Security, the bill still falls short.  To fund programs important to our communities, Congress is forced to make false choices,” stated Congresswoman Matsui. “Because the Administration zeroed out funds, we are forced to take valuable dollars from the UASI grant to restore funds to the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program.  We are robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

 

In the previous year, the UASI and LETPP grants received, respectively, $765 million and $400 million.  However this year, the Administration recommended eliminating the LETPP grant.  Instead of doing this, the Committee provided $750 million for the UASI grant and restored the LETPP grant to last year’s amount of $400 million.  Sacramento received over $15.25 million from these two grant programs for the fiscal years of 2004 and 2005 (the grant funding for the fiscal year 2006 has not yet been released).

  Click here to view Congresswoman Matsui's speech on the Homeland Security Bill 

Below is the text of her statement (as prepared for delivery):

 “The security of our nation is this institution’s highest priority.  Therefore, I was pleased to see that overall, funding for homeland security was increased.  This includes an increase for our security efforts at our ports, borders, critical infrastructure and all modes of transportation.  There is also increased funding for our brave state and local first responders.    “This bill however, still falls short. Because it is controlled by limited resources rather than need.  The allocation isn’t high enough and therefore, our security is compromised as a result.   “For example, the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program Grants, which are very important to local police response capabilities. These are funds my own hometown of Sacramento has received and used for things like information analysis.  Unfortunately, the Administration zeroed out its funding.   “Wisely, the committee recognized the value of this program and restored its funds.  But to do so, they had to move funds from the Urban Area Security Initiative Grant to the LETPP grant.  In Sacramento, UASI funding has proven vital.  Funds have been spent on items such as gas mask filters, first responder training and communication equipment upgrades.  But earlier this year, the guidelines changed.  Sacramento – along with a number of other cities – was deemed ineligible to apply.  Yet, in all of my meetings and letters with DHS, the only explanation I walked away with is that budgetary constraints necessitated this change. “Both of these programs provide critical resources to our communities.  But trying to ensure preparedness…We are left robbing Peter to pay Paul.   “DHS’s core mission is to secure the safety of Americans.  It is Congress’ responsibility to ensure that their efforts are adequately funded.  However, Democratic attempts to boost funding by $3.5 billion for border security, port security, aviation security, first-responders and disaster preparedness were defeated.   “I have an obligation to ensure that we are meeting our national security needs and a responsibility to my constituents.  While I am glad that this does increase funding, I hope that we will continue to address all of our security funding needs.”