Department of Homeland Security Awards
More than $8Million for Preparedness of Columbus
Washington, D.C. –
Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-OH-15) announced today that the
Department of Homeland Security awarded $8,656,169.00 from the Urban
Area Security Initiative (UASI) to enhance the overall security and
preparedness of Columbus. These funds are part of more than $8 billion
the Department has allocated or awarded since March 1, 2003 to help our
nation’s first responders and state and local governments to prevent,
respond and recover from potential acts of terrorism and other potential
disasters.
“I’ve worked hard to
ensure that Columbus’s security concerns are being heard in Washington,
I’m happy to see that the Administration is effectively meeting the
requests from those who know our community best and strive to keep our
families and neighborhoods safe,” said Pryce.
“This funding is so
crucial for the first responders who must be given the appropriate and
adequate tools to carry out their mission when the call to duty comes
in. If Columbus has greater security needs then we must address them
with the proper resources, and this funding is a very encouraging step.”
“Homeland Security is
pleased to be part of the Administration’s efforts to direct funds to
areas with greater security needs,” said Secretary Ridge. “Since FY’03,
Homeland Security has awarded over $1.5 billion in UASI funds to
directly address the needs of 50 urban areas. These funds help fulfill
one of our most critical missions – to enhance the preparedness of
states and localities across the nation.”
“Thousands of dollars
have been effectively directed into the hands of the first responders at
the local level, now larger urban areas, like Columbus are also
benefiting from the work the Administration is doing to identify cities
with the greatest needs,” said Pryce.
Secretary Ridge
announced the application period for UASI in November 2003, as part of
$725 million allocated in FY’04 for urban area preparedness and mass
transit security grants. Urban areas are chosen based on a formula that
takes into account factors including population density, amount and
vulnerability of critical infrastructure and credible threat
information. The funds are distributed to the designated states, which
work with cities and counties to form regions that will work together
through mutual aid agreements, interoperable communications, statewide
intelligence centers and community and citizen participation.
In total across the
Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human
Services and the Department of Justice, this Administration has provided
$13.1 billion dollars in direct homeland security grants from FY’02 to
FY’04, as compared to only $1.2 billion allocated from FY’99 to FY’01 –
more than a 900% increase in the commitment and spending on homeland
security.
Congresswoman Pryce,
the fourth ranking member of House Leadership, served as a member of the
House Select Homeland Security Committee and helped draft the bill
creating the Department of Homeland Security. The Congresswoman
represents the Fifteenth District of Ohio, which includes Western
Franklin County, Madison, and Union Counties.
|