FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2007
CONTACT: Geoff Embler or Matt Mackowiak
Sen. Hutchison Announces Texas to Receive $188 Million in DHS Funding
Up from $89.8 Million Last Year, 3rd Highest in Country
WASHINGTON -- Texas’ senior Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) today announced the State of Texas will receive $188.2 million in 2007 grant funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the third highest recipient in the country behind California and New York. Last year Texas received $89.8 million total.
“Texas faces unique homeland, port, and border security challenges,” said Sen. Hutchison. “I will continue to work with state and local officials to ensure their homeland and border security funding needs are met.”
The funding breaks down as follows:
· $65 million from the Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program, a joint program between the U.S. Department of Commerce and DHS; the funding will improve the interoperability of communications equipment for first responders, the second highest amount received in the country behind California
· $58.3 million from the DHS Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), which is allocated to major urban areas facing the threat of terrorist activity. Last year, the State of Texas received $34.96 million in UASI funding.
o According to DHS, “UASI provides financial assistance to address the unique planning, equipment, training, and exercise needs of large urban areas, assisting these jurisdictions in building an enhanced and sustainable capacity to prevent, respond to, and recover from threats or acts of terrorism.”
· $34.4 million from the State Homeland Security Grant Program, up from $26.1 million last year
· $24.5 million from the Law Enforcement Terrorism and Prevention Program, the third highest in the country behind California and New York
· $3.35 million from the DHS Metropolitan Medical Response System Awards
· $3.35 million from the DHS Citizen Corps Program Awards
“We tragically witnessed the danger of not having reliable, interoperable communications equipment on 9/11 and during Hurricane Katrina,” said Sen. Hutchison. “The State of Texas will be able to use this funding to better prepare our first responders.”
--END--
|
