December 19, 2007

Washington

, DC

—

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada today sent the following letter to President Bush, expressing concern about reported cuts to important homeland security grant programs and requesting adequate support for the project.

“Rather than cutting valuable funding for transit security and emergency management President Bush should be investing in this important Nevada program,” Reid said.  “I’m concerned about what these reported cuts could mean for high risk states like the Nevada.  I hope the president looks into this matter.  In the mean time I will continue doing what I can to protect the people of Nevada and the millions of tourists who visit the state each year.”

Below is the text of the letter:

President George W. BushThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.Washington, DC 20500Dear Mr. President: As you prepare your Fiscal Year 2009 Budget to Congress, we write to express our concern about reported cuts to important homeland security grant programs.  Specifically, a November 26 document from the Office of Management and Budget indicates that the FY09 Budget will slash funds for domestic homeland security and eliminate grant programs that benefit port security, transit security and emergency management. The Port Security Grant Program funds security improvements at our nation’s ports.  These grants are awarded through a competitive, risk-based process to address critical vulnerabilities, conduct training and exercises, and develop the ability of our ports to be full security partners with federal, state and local agencies.  Our ports are hubs of our nation’s economy but remain a vulnerable presence in many communities.  As you know, the

SAFE Port Act

signed into law October 2006 authorized $400 million for port security grants.   The Transit Security Grant Program helps secure high-risk/high-consequence transit, provide a deterrent presence, train key security personnel, and conduct public awareness campaigns.  The bombings of commuter trains in Madrid and the transit system in London demonstrate that mass transit continues to be a prime target for terrorist attack.  Millions of Americans use mass transit every day, and we should continue to provide the funds to keep them safe.  As you know, transit security grants were authorized in the 9/11 Recommendations bill signed into law earlier this year.   The Emergency Performance Management Grant Program allows our communities to develop emergency management plans to respond to a disaster.  Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the California wildfires, and the recent storms in the Pacific Northwest highlight the critical importance of effective, pre-incident disaster planning in all of our communities.  These emergency response plans are developed at the local level, by local officials who are most familiar with the capabilities and needs of their communities.  As you know, the Emergency Performance Management Grant Program was also authorized in the 9/11 Recommendations bill. These homeland security programs were all authorized by legislation this Administration supported and signed into law.  Unfortunately, real security does not come cheap and cannot be achieved with mere words of support.  At a time when this Administration asks for hundreds of billions of dollars to conduct its war in Iraq, it should also provide adequate support to protect Americans here at home and reject these misguided cuts to vital homeland security programs.    Sincerely,  Senator Harry Reid, Majority LeaderSenator Dick Durbin, Assistant Majority Leader

Senator Chuck Schumer, Democratic Conference Vice Chairman

Senator Patty Murray, Democratic Conference Secretary

Senator Joe Biden

Senator Barbara Boxer

Senator Sherrod Brown

Senator Ben Cardin

Senator Tom Carper

Senator Bob Casey

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

Senator Christopher Dodd

Senator Russell Feingold

Senator Dianne Feinstein

Senator Tom Harkin

Senator Edward Kennedy

Senator John Kerry

Senator Amy Klobuchar

Senator Frank Lautenberg

Senator Carl Levin

Senator Robert Menendez

Senator Barbara Mikulski

Senator Jack Reed

Senator Debbie Stabenow

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

Senator Ron Wyden