Statement by Senator Dianne Feinstein

- On U.S. Conference of Mayors Report on First Responder Funding -
September 17, 2003

"In a survey of 168 cities, including 22 in California, the U.S. Conference of Mayors found that 90 percent of cities have not received funds from the country's largest federal homeland security program designed to assist local officials, police, fire department and other 'first responders' to prevent, prepare for and react to a terrorist attack.

This survey also found that states have not promptly passed on homeland security money that was designated for localities and that over half of the surveyed cities were not consulted by states on how to use and distribute homeland security funding. This is very troubling.

I wrote to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge in March 2003 raising these general concerns. Unfortunately, to date, he has not responded. This report underscores the urgency of the Department of Homeland Security addressing the issue.

As a former mayor and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have been dismayed that adequate homeland security funds have not gotten to the cities. That is why I supported language in the Appropriations Committee last March to impose a 45-day deadline for states to pass on most homeland security grant money intended for localities.

This language was included in the supplemental appropriations legislation in Fiscal Year 2003 as well as the currently pending Fiscal Year 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations legislation.

Unfortunately, as the U.S. Conference survey makes clear, compliance with this deadline is poor. I believe that we need to find a way to ensure that states do, in fact, comply with the 45-day deadline.

I have always believed that, to the maximum extent possible, first responders to acts of terrorism and other major emergencies should receive the resources they need directly. And I again urge Secretary Tom Ridge to ensure the funds are going to where they are most urgently needed."

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