Washington, DC – Rep Charlie Dent, a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and Ranking Member of the Transportation, Security and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee, joined his colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary Napolitano expressing concerns over the alleged $1 million Fire Prevention and Safety Grant awarded to the ACORN Institute in New Orleans, Louisiana by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier this week FEMA indicated that ACORN will not receive the federal funding as announced in September, prior to Congress’s decision to cut off federal funding to the organization do to unethical and dishonest behavior demonstrated by their employees.
“I am pleased that DHS leadership rescinded the $1 million fire grant awarded to ACORN. I know plenty of small fire departments throughout Pennsylvania that might benefit from this funding,” expressed Congressman Dent. “Because of the limited federal resources available to our emergency responders and fire departments, DHS leadership must be willing to address award recipients should their behavior fail to align with the homeland security mission of the Department.”