Nearly $6 million in Homeland Security grants for El Paso
7/25/2008
Washington, D.C.
News
EL PASO TO RECEIVE NEARLY $6 MILLION IN HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, announced today that the Department of Homeland Security will award nearly $6 million in federal grants through the Homeland Security Grant Program.
For the second year in row, El Paso has been selected to receive funding under the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). This year, the Department of Homeland Security will award El Paso $5,665,000 under the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) program. These funds are in addition to the $5.82 million in funding received in 2007.
El Paso also received $321,221 under the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) to further enhance and sustain a comprehensive regional mass casualty incident response capability for response to all-hazards mass casualty incidents, including terrorism, naturally occurring events, and large-scale hazardous materials incidents.
"With the expansion of Fort Bliss and El Paso's overall growth, our city is emerging as a major urban center with critical assets that need to be protected," Congressman Reyes said. "This investment by the Department of Homeland Security reflects the value of our community's infrastructure to the overall security of the United States. I applaud DHS for responding to our repeated requests for additional homeland security funding."
El Paso is rapidly emerging as a major player in border security and military issues. On August 11-12, UTEP, in conjunction with the Office of Congressman Silvestre Reyes will host the 5th annual Border Security Conference. Several high-ranking officials from the U.S. and Mexico will meet in El Paso to discuss ways to increase cross-border cooperation to enhance border security and expand trade and commerce in our region.
Since the program's inception, Congressman Reyes has contacted current DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff and former DHS Secretary Tom Ridge during his tenure multiple times about the need for these grant funds. Reyes also partnered with the City of El Paso, El Paso County, the Texas Department of Homeland Security, the Tigua Tribe, and the Rio Grande Council of Governments, to craft El Paso's application for this funding.
Due to the efforts of Congressman Reyes and others, the Department of Homeland Security has placed additional emphasis on the presence of critical infrastructure such as military installations and international ports of entry when determining cities eligible for UASI funds, which played an integral role in El Paso's inclusion in the UASI program.
The UASI program focuses on the unique planning, equipment, training and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas. Funds assist communities in building capacity to prevent, protect, respond, and recover from acts of terrorism.
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Vincent M. Perez
202-225-4831
vincent.perez@mail.house.gov
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