Dreier Votes to Reform Funding for First Responders
New risk-based approach makes America, California more secure

May 12, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, voted today to approve legislation requiring the Department of Homeland Security to allocate funding for first responders based upon risk, better preparing California’s communities to respond to terrorist attacks. H.R. 1544, the Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 2005, was approved by a broad bipartisan vote of 409-10.

“Our first responders are constantly on the front lines in this new global war on terror,” Dreier said. “It’s absolutely critical that they have the resources they need to protect us. This bill is an important improvement on the distribution of homeland security funds. Eliminating red tape and including a risk-based approach will dramatically enhance the effectiveness of federal funding targeted for homeland security.”

Currently, each state receives a minimum of .75 percent of the vast majority of first responder grants, with the rest distributed solely based on population. H.R. 1544 changes the guaranteed state minimum to .25 percent, with the remaining funds distributed based upon risk. “Our current structure doesn’t provide enough critical homeland security dollars to states and localities that are at greatest risk of attack,” Dreier said. “Too much funding has made its way to smaller states with fewer needs, while California has been shortchanged. I have long advocated for a risk-based approach to tackling our homeland security needs, and this bill takes us firmly in that direction.”

H.R. 1544 requires states to submit three-year state homeland security plans to a new First Responder Grants Board. The Board will then distribute funds to states based on their risk of attack. The bill also makes sure states rapidly distribute funding to first responders by imposing penalties on states that wait more than 45 days to send funding to local communities. The bill also allows regions with more than 1.6 million people and covering at least 20,000 square miles to apply directly for first responder funding, after consulting with their individual states.