Homeland Security chairman to revive first responder grant bill

Cox, who said the bill was the first item on the panel's agenda for April, introduced similar legislation last year and vigorously negotiated with House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young, R-Alaska, to reach a fragile deal on the issue.

Cox would like funding to states and urban areas to be based on risk and vulnerability, while Young fought to ensure small and rural states received a piece of the pie as well.

Under the deal, states that meet certain criteria of risk and vulnerability would receive 0.45 percent of the funding. Other states would receive at least 0.25 percent.

The Bush administration proposed similar changes in the fiscal 2006 budget for the grant programs. Currently, every state is guaranteed 0.75 percent of the money.

Cox faces resistance to his legislation from other lawmakers, including his Senate counterpart, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine. She has introduced her own legislation and plans to mark up her bill in April as well.