[WASHINGTON, D.C.]- U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded $11,496,456 in federal grant funding to ports in the Chicago area. Today's announcement comes just months after Durbin met with and wrote to Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Michael Chertoff, urging him to add the City of Chicago to DHS’ list of “critical seaports.” Those cities on the “critical seaports list” are eligible to apply for more than $168 million in port security grant funding for the protection of critical port infrastructure from terrorism. This is the first year that Chicago was included on that list since 2003, and the first year it received significant funding.

“I commend the decision made by DHS to award Chicago with this critical port funding,” said Durbin. “In February, I met with DHS Secretary Chertoff and asked him to restore Chicago to the list of critical seaports and provide port security funding. Today, the Administration took an important step in acknowledging the City of Chicago’s need for adequate homeland security funding.”

In Durbin’s letter to Secretary Chertoff he noted, “I am concerned that last year, the port of Chicago was not included among the top 66 ports eligible to apply for port security grants even though it is undoubtedly one of the top ports in the nation and the world.” Chertoff responded to Durbin’s port security concerns in a June 28th letter, announcing that “as to the Port of Chicago and its eligibility for the FY 2006 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP), the FY 2006 PSGP Guidance and eligibility list will be released in a few days and Chicago will be eligible for grants under this program.”

In 2002, of the over $58 million requested by the City of Chicago, zero was awarded. In 2004, of the over $14 million requested, zero was awarded. The one project which received an award in the last four years was made in the amount of $300,000 – a partial award made to the Chicago Police Department for a year round patrol. The award was so small that the CPD was unable to move forward with the proposed security measures. Chicago Port Security grant requests total $84 million over the past four years and include requests for surveillance equipment for the Chicago and Calumet River, Year Round Patrol Vessel for the Chicago Police Department and a Chicago Marine Safety Station.

The nation’s 100 most critical seaports, representing 95 percent of the foreign waterborne commerce of the United States, are eligible to participate in the port grant program. From 2002 to 2005, DHS provided more than $706 million through this program. The funding is dispersed through the DHS Office of Grants and Training’s Infrastructure Protection Program.

The City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications received $7,529,016; the City of Joliet received $551,105; the Illinois International Port District received $3,416,335. The City of Chicago will spend its funds enhancing surveillance and sensor technology, access control, intrusion barriers, and emergency response equipment.

[Text of letter below]

February 15, 2006

The Honorable Michael Chertoff
Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528

Dear Secretary Chertoff:

Thank you for agreeing to meet with me on Thursday. At the meeting I would like to discuss your department’s Fiscal Year 2007 budget, various Illinois homeland security requests, and evacuation planning legislation.

I am concerned that the Department of Homeland Security’s FY 2007 budget decreases first-responder and homeland security funding by almost $400 million and cuts funding streams to police, firefighters and emergency managers. For example, the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program is eliminated and assistance to firefighters is cut by over $350 million.

These cuts to cities' first responders compound the concern I have expressed previously that the City of Chicago, the third largest city in the country and the hub of the nation’s transportation network, has not received sufficient funds to secure its infrastructure and citizens. Specifically, I am concerned that last year, the port of Chicago was not included among the top 66 ports eligible to apply for port security grants even though it is undoubtedly one of the top ports in the nation and the world. I am also troubled that Chicago was not certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for an urban search and rescue team and that the city’s first responders do not have interoperable communications equipment.

I would also like to discuss with you legislation I have introduced (S. 2043, the Mass Evacuation Exercise Assistance Act) to better prepare our cities and states to respond to disasters. As we witnessed in the wake of recent natural disasters, our cities face special challenges and vulnerabilities when disaster strikes. Part of disaster preparation at any level of government includes having well prepared and practiced evacuation plans. Existing grant programs for evacuations only provide sufficient funding for personnel, and not for proper planning and staging of evacuations. This bill would authorize a five year grant program that will provide local governments with the funds to develop comprehensive evacuation plans, stage drills and exercises to perfect evacuation procedures, and stockpile materials to supply evacuation staging areas and evacuation routes.

I hope that we can discuss these matters in detail on Thursday in order to ensure that citizens in Illinois and across the nation have the tools to prevent disasters and to protect their citizens should emergencies occur.

Sincerely,
Richard Durbin
United States Senator