OK Bill To Boost Anti-Terror Funds For Firefighters, Cops

The House of Representatives approved legislation last week which, according to Congressmember Joseph Crowley, supports first responders and increases funding for homeland security.

"With this legislation," Crowley declared, "Congress is promising more access to federal grants to firefighters, police officers and emergency workers on whom we depend to perform at 100 percent during an attack."

The Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act was approved with strong bipartisan support, in a 296-126 vote.

Crowley (D- Queens/The Bronx) said the bill provides close to $40 billion, $2 billion more than President George W. Bush's budget for key domestic security programs that were underfunded or altogether eliminated in his proposal.

"Specifically," Crowley explained, "this bill restores funds to cancel the president's 52 percent proposed cut to the State Homeland Security Grant program, which provides grants to first responders to prepare for and respond to an act of terrorism."

In Fiscal Year 2006, Crowley pointed out, that program provided New York City first responders with $384 million.

In addition, crowley said, where Bush proposed a 55 percent cut in Firefighter Assistance Grants, "this critical legislation again restores full funding".

The lawmaker, a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, also said that the approved bill cancels the president's proposal to eliminate the Local Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program and the SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) program, ensuring their continuation.

Since the Democrats took control of Congress, Crowley has successfully worked on a bipartisan basis to ensure that New York City receives adequate anti-terror funds to prevent another act of terrorism being perpetrated and to protect city residents.

In 2003, Congress approved legislative language written by Crowley to create the first and only Federal Homeland Security Grant program directly targeting funds to those cities at greatest risk of attack and mandated that these funds be distributed solely on the basis of risk. This program, now known as the Urban Area Security Initiative, has delivered more than $529 million to New York City alone in federal anti-terror funds, Crowley said.- John Toscano