[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 8 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT ENHANCEMENT ACT

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I am pleased to again be an original 
cosponsor of Senator Collins' Homeland Security Grant Enhancement Act. 
This important legislation will coordinate and simplify the often 
complicated and confusing homeland security grant process. This bill 
will make it much easier for local first responders to get funding by 
reducing the many, and often redundant, grant applications steps. The 
amendment also gives local officials far more flexibility in spending 
homeland security dollars, including paying for overtime costs 
associated with homeland security tasks and training. Successful 
programs, such as FIRE Act grants, the COPS program, and the Emergency 
Management Performance Grant program, are protected in this 
legislation.
  The legislation also tackles the controversial topic of how to 
allocate funding. I believe it has struck a fair balance by both 
allocating funding based on threat, as recommended by the 9/11 
Commission and others, and maintaining baseline funding so that States 
and local officials can have a predictable stream of funding to meet 
the homeland security needs faced by all jurisdictions. As Senator 
Collins noted, the support this bill has gotten from Senators from both 
large and small States is indicative of the balanced approach taken by 
this legislation.
  The Senate adopted this measure by voice vote in the last Congress as 
an amendment to the intelligence reform bill and it is my hope that the 
Senate will soon take up and pass this important bill. Simplifying and 
rationalizing the current homeland security grant system should be a 
top priority. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and to 
adequately allocate resources to meet our homeland security needs.

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