Homeland Security chief touts increase in urban grants
Latest installment brings the total that has been allocated for fiscal 2008 to $3 billion.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced an additional $1.8 billion in antiterrorism grants to cities and states Friday, bringing the total of fiscal 2008 grants to $3 billion.
And although the Urban Area Security Initiative grants were down for Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago and Newark, N.J., Chertoff pointed out that with grant money included from previous awards this year, those cities all received more money than they did in fiscal 2007.
Chertoff added that 14 cities were added to the list of urban areas, pushing the number of grant recipients to 60.
In total, $781.6 million was allocated to the UASI program, a $34 million increase over fiscal 2007. Chertoff praised the grant program, saying the rewards process has been streamlined and his department has "seen a return on [our] investment." Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., a member of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, said that although New York receives $144.2 million in UASI grants, a $10 million increase over fiscal 2007, it remains substantially less than the $205 million awarded in fiscal 2005.