Proposed cuts to first responder grants draw fire

The Homeland Security Department's fiscal 2008 budget request would provide less money than is now being spent on politically popular grant programs for first responders, a move that drew immediate criticism Monday from Democrats and Republicans alike.

The budget would provide about $2.2 billion for state and local grants and training programs, which is about $1.2 billion, or 35 percent, less than Congress enacted for the current fiscal year.

Significantly, funding for state homeland security grants would be less than half the current level, falling from $510 million to $250 million. Grant assistance to firefighters would be cut from $662 million to $300 million. And law enforcement terrorism prevention program grants would drop from $363 million to $262 million.

A Homeland Security spokesman countered by noting that the department is requesting about the same amount for grant programs as was sought in its fiscal 2007 budget. Congress increased funding levels in the enacted fiscal 2007 spending bill.

The Homeland Security and Commerce departments also plan to distribute about $1 billion in new grant funding next fiscal year, specifically to help state and local public safety agencies buy interoperable communications equipment.

The spokesman said the new grant program will compensate for reduced funding in other grant programs.

"We are putting our money where our mouth is," the spokesman said. "We talk very seriously about the priority we place on interoperability."

Reducing money for existing grant programs, however, will be a tough sell on Capitol Hill.

House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman David Price, D-N.C., called the proposed funding levels for programs that help first responders "particularly disappointing."

"One of my top priorities as chairman of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee will be to ensure that our first responders -- our nation's first line of defense during a disaster of any kind -- are well equipped to perform their jobs," Price said.

House Homeland Security ranking member Peter King, R-N.Y., said he has "serious concerns" about the proposed reductions.

"These brave men and women are on the front lines in our homeland security efforts, and we need to be certain they have the resources they need," King said. "I plan to examine this issue very closely and work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure our first responders have the necessary funding to keep our homeland secure."

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., and ranking member Susan Collins, R-Maine, were equally critical.

"The president's fiscal 2008 budget request for the Department of Homeland Security represents a serious disconnect between his rhetoric and the reality of protecting Americans from terrorist threats and natural disasters," Lieberman said.

Collins said the budget request "again highlights the chronic and troubling under funding of first-responder grant programs." She added that a reduction for the state homeland security grants program "will be a severe blow to states' abilities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to terrorist attacks and other emergencies."

House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member Harold Rogers, R-Ky., did not take a position on the funding requested for grants, saying instead that the subcommittee will hold hearings to examine the budget.

"We will hold some 25 hearings in the months ahead that examine what we're accomplishing and how to make every penny count," Rogers said.