Washington, D.C.-  Representative Edward Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee made the following statement in response to today’s announcement by the Department of Homeland Security that Boston-area cities were among cities in 29 states identified nationally to apply for a portion of the $740 million of funding allotted by the Department of Homeland Security for Fiscal Year 2006 under the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).  This funding falls short of the $830 million funding levels for the UASI program in 2005.    According to the Department of Homeland Security, the UASI funding is provided to both address national disasters and enhance capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, or recover from Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive disasters or attacks, and prevent agriculture, and cyber terrorism incidents. 

Washington, DC:  Representative Edward Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee made the following statements in response to press reports that President Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency to spy on Americans and others in the United States without evidence that they are involved in terrorism.