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Press Release
For Immediate Release
February 06, 2007 |
Contact: Afshin Mohamadi
202-225-7944 |
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Rep. Maloney Slams President’s Proposal for Huge Cuts in Local Homeland Security Funding |
| New York has continuing security needs, says Maloney |
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WASHINGTON, DC – President Bush’s FY08 budget proposal, delivered to Congress yesterday, includes an $800 million cut in local homeland security grants. Included in those cuts is a 64% cut in the State Homeland Security Grant Program (from $525 million to $187.5 million), as well as a 22% cut in the Urban Area Security Initiative (from $770 million to $600 million). These cuts could disproportionately affect New York, which has the highest threat level and receives more homeland grant money than any other state.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a longtime critic of the administration’s homeland security grant funding and distribution process, said that the president’s proposal does not reflect the reality of the terrorist threat.
“Unless we went down to Code Green and they forgot to tell us, this funding makes no sense,” said Maloney. “We still have enormous homeland security needs in New York City, so a reduction in federal assistance would be a big mistake. The terrorist threat does not seem to be going away, and neither will our security needs. The Democratic Congress has already shown its commitment to security by passing the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, and I know that we will not let these huge cuts stand.”
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