WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) today offered an amendment during the Select Committee on Homeland Security mark-up of HR 3266, the Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 2003, to expedite overtime reimbursement payments to local first responders.  The amendment failed on a close 19-24 vote following contentious debate.

“I am deeply disappointed that my Republican colleagues have put up this roadblock for our local first responders today.  There is a faster way to get federal reimbursement funds from point A to point B.  If the majority were truly committed to ‘faster and smarter funding for first responders,’ this amendment would have passed,” said Lowey. 

“Cash-strapped local governments have no way to predict how much to include in their budgets for overtime during raised federal security alert levels.  It makes sense to set up a clear path for direct and timely reimbursement from the federal government for these overtime costs.”

Lowey’s amendment would have allowed local governments to apply directly to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for reimbursement of police and firefighter overtime costs incurred as a result of heightened alert levels.  This would have eliminated the passage of reimbursement funds for costly overtime duty through states and, sometimes, county governments. 

There is currently $200 million available through DHS for overtime reimbursement. However, only $60 million in claims have been submitted. DHS allows only states to submit applications while HR 3266 would also allow regions of more than 1.6 million people to apply.  DHS Secretary Tom Ridge acknowledged before the Committee in February that there is a “log jam” for this initiative at the state level.

Lowey recently learned that many communities in her district were not aware of these funds. Providing information to local governments and allowing them to apply directly to DHS for reimbursement would get funds back in their budgets much more quickly.  

Opponents argued that funding for this purpose should be part of the unified grants program, which is created by this bill to provide all first responder grants including equipment and training funds.  Lowey rebutted that first responders should not be forced to pit their own equipment needs against funds they have already spent on overtime.

The majority also argued that DHS would have to set up a new system for handling the many requests from local governments.  Lowey said a precedent for providing funds to municipal governments exists.  Her amendment would reimburse overtime costs similar to the way the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides disaster assistance.  Additionally, DHS already provides funds to local governments through the U.S. FIRE grants program, which has proven invaluable to fire departments throughout the nation.

“Regardless of the bottom line, our local first responders are always there to answer the call. I’m extremely disappointed that the Homeland Security Committee didn’t answer their calls for direct overtime reimbursements today,” Lowey closed.  “I will continue working with local first responders to get the equipment, training, and vital resources they need as quickly as possible.”