WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) will today offer an amendment to the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill in full committee mark-up to require bioterror grants to be distributed on the basis of risk. Lowey is a long-time leader in the fight for risk-based distribution of homeland security funds.
“Under the current system, New York receives less per capita in funding than many areas across the country that are at far less risk,” added Lowey. “Yet experts tell us that a bioterror attack is most likely to occur in a heavily populated area like New York City and that its effects could quickly expand to surrounding communities. When it comes to our homeland security, we must put our resources where they are needed most.”
New York currently receives less in funding per capita than much less populated areas. For example, New York State, not including New York City, ranks 41st out of 54 entities on a per capita basis for funding under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness program. New York City fares even worse, ranking last out of 54. The State receives only $1.60 per person, and the City receives $1.53 per person while sparsely populated states like Wyoming receive as much as $2.51 per person.
New York State, not including the City, ranks 46th out of 54 for Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Public Health Preparedness funding. The State receives $4.14 per person compared to $12.28 per person in Wyoming, which ranks number one in the program.
Lowey and Congressman Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island) introduced a bill earlier this year to require agencies that distribute bioterror preparedness grants to consider risk. Risk-based funding would ensure that areas most likely to be targeted by terrorists are also most likely to receive federal funds.
“It amazes me that we’ve gone this long allocating such a large portion of homeland security funds—including bioterrorism funds—based on everything but the threat of a terrorist attack to a particular area or region,” said Lowey. “There is no question that the threat to New York and the surrounding counties is serious and ongoing, yet many have fought my efforts to distribute funds based on risk every step of the way. I will continue to fight to make sure that every penny that comes from the federal government for homeland security preparedness is distributed based on risk.”
This legislation is a continuation of Lowey’s efforts to promote risk-based funding. Three times, the House has passed her proposal to require consideration of threat, vulnerability, and consequence for homeland security grants.
