First responder funding might become issue in DHS confirmation

A congressional squabble over first-responder funding might spill into the Senate confirmation hearing for Bernard Kerik, President Bush's nominee for Homeland Security secretary.

Kerik was New York City's police commissioner when the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks occured, and some rural lawmakers are concerned that he would be predisposed to favor giving more first-responder funding to urban areas at the expense of rural areas.

The funding fight was not resolved this year and will be rekindled when the 109th Congress convenes next year, with urban lawmakers saying New York City, Washington, D.C., and other big cities deserve a bigger share of federal first-responder funding and rural lawmakers saying the funding pie should be divided evenly.

Senate Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, from the largely rural state of Maine, said she plans to question Kerik about the issue during his confirmation hearings next year. Collins said in a statement that she remains opposed to distributing funding by "a standard that pits urban areas against more rural states." She argued that rural states also have significant vulnerabilities -- including borders, coastlines and major industries -- that require protection.

The Senate approved a Collins-written bill to retain the current formula, which distributes 0.75 percent of first-responder funding to each state. She said the legislation, which was blocked in the House, would ensure the "majority of homeland security grant money is distributed according to the level of risk and vulnerability to terrorist attacks."

House Homeland Security Chairman Chris Cox, R-Calif., takes the opposite view. He authored legislation to reduce the percentage each state would receive to ensure New York City and other metropolitan areas receive a larger piece of the pie. Cox views Kerik as an ally on the issue.

"Without having discussed it with him, Cox is confident that [Kerik] will bring a lot of credibility to the table on the issue," said Cox's spokesman. Cox has gone head-to-head on the issue with Collins and two powerful House chairmen -- Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young, R-Alaska, and Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Harold Rogers, R-Ky. Cox attempted to add his bill to the 9/11 intelligence legislation that passed this week, but the provision was removed.