Under the formula used to distribute some $3.6 billion for homeland security assistance this year, small rural states received disproportionate funding even though Wyoming, for example, wouldn't have the same national security risks as a huge coastal state such as California.

The state has complained over the three years the program has been in effect that it should receive a higher share of the money because of its long coast, its border with Mexico, its many international airports and its ports that handle most of the cargo imported from Asia.

The legislation approved Thursday moves toward the state's goals.

Under the new formula, the minimum payment for most states drops and more money will flow to states with the highest national security needs.

California could do much better under the bill because the distribution formula favors states with long coastlines and borders with Canada or Mexico.

But Sacramento also would greatly benefit because the new formula recognizes that cities along major rivers or downstream from dams have special national security needs.

Rep. Doris Matsui heralded the change, saying that the recognition of flood-control systems and dams as critical infrastructure means that more funding under one of the assistance programs, the Urban Area Security Initiative, could flow to the city and region.

"While we typically view the levee system as our first line of defense against Mother Nature's raging storms, we must also face the reality that this critical infrastructure must be protected from terrorist attack," the Sacramento Democrat said.

"A major levee failure or a terrorist attack at the dam upstream would be devastating to the region," Matsui said.

National security concerns caused the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to close the road over Folsom Dam in early 2004, but the agency has since said the road could reopen to commuter traffic under tight restrictions.

Over the last three years, the Sacramento region has received nearly $21 million from the Urban Area Security Initiative.

The money has been spent on first-responder training and communications equipment, and soon $3.3 million will be spent on breathing gear and oxygen tanks for all the fire departments in the Sacramento region, according to a briefing memo from Matsui's office.

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Chris Cox, R-Newport Beach, said the formula change was advocated by the federally appointed 9/11 commission that reported last year on lessons learned from the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon.

Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Gold River, said the change is good government because it directs money where the need is the greatest.

"This goes against the grain of those who serve in (the House) and want to make sure they get the best amount of money they can" for their districts, he said.

"In this particular situation, we are acting as national legislators."

The measure was approved 409-10, with California's delegation united behind it.

It still must be approved by the Senate, where Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced similar legislation Thursday.

The House begins work as early as next week on a spending bill that will dole out the national security cash for 2006, expected to be about the same overall total as this year.

About the writer:

• The Bee's David Whitney can be reached at (202) 383-0004 or dwhitney@mcclatchydc.com.