WASHINGTON, DC – A parochial funding philosophy and jurisdictional bickering in the Senate have once again stood in the way of a sensible, national approach to homeland security funding. Media reports have stated that the recently finalized Patriot Act Reauthorization conference report will not include provisions to reform a fundamentally flawed formula for distributing homeland security grants. Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland), who successfully added the reform to the House version of the legislation and has pushed for its inclusion in the conference report, issued the following statement:
“This action is not just a blow to our efforts to use taxpayer money wisely; it is a blow to our national security. Right now, we are sending scarce federal resources to areas at low-risk for terror attacks while shortchanging communities that have previously been targeted. At the insistence of a handful of senators, the Patriot Act Reauthorization conference report maintains this flawed policy.
“Working with Congressmen John Sweeney and Peter King of New York, I fought to base distribution of homeland security on risk and vulnerability – an approach that has been passed by the House three times and endorsed by the Bush Administration and the September 11th Commission. This fight won’t end today. I will continue to work to make sure that homeland security funds are distributed on the basis of risk, not pork. This is a national priority and every state in this country will benefit from a smart, risk-based funding formula.”
