For Immediate Release
February 27, 2003
Please Contact: Colin Durrant (617)722-1650 or
Dalié Jiménez, 617-722-1650

Sen. Barrios Investigates Lack of Federal Funding for Homeland Security 

STATE HOUSE, MA -- Representative Tim Toomey and Senator Jarrett Barrios, Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Public Safety, and state and local officials gathered today in a special investigatory hearing about the lack of federal funding for homeland security, including funding for security at Logan Airport, reductions to First Responder grants, as well as elimination of grants to enhance municipal police and fire departments.

“Despite intelligence agencies’ reports that terrorist threats are on the rise, President Bush has submitted a budget for Fiscal Year 2004 that cuts funding for urgent homeland security, including reductions to several critical areas of security for our state and our cities,” Senator Barrios said. “Massachusetts has been waiting for federal dollars for over a year. Our towns and cities are making difficult cuts that reduce their ability to respond in times of need. It is imperative we understand how Bush’s cuts will impact our current initiatives, and how they may curtail new priorities in terrorism preparedness and planning,”

The Bush Administration fiscal year 2004 budget request cuts support to state and local law enforcement “first responders” by $1.7 billion – 42% - from fiscal year 2002 levels. The Bush Administration’s budget will cut $557 million in funding for aviation security and other transportation security, and virtually eliminates the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, which awards grants to municipalities to hire and redeploy police officers.

“Since the September 11th attacks, Massachusetts has directed almost $60 million to homeland security, including a $20 million grant program for local police and fire to purchase equipment,” Rep. Toomey said. “We recognize that local police, fire, and emergency management are the first line of defense against terrorism. They are meeting the challenge of this new responsibility. It is up to the federal government to now meet the challenge.”

The Bush Administration’s budget compromises the country’s efforts to strengthen perimeter security, calling to cut $500 million from the Immigration and Naturalization Service; $72 million from the Customs Service, effectively eliminating 1,600 Customs inspectors; and $113 million from the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

“There is bipartisan agreement that homeland security should be at the forefront of our domestic agenda,” Senator Barrios added. “I fear that given Bush’s cuts to our police, fire and other first responders, we are not where we should be regarding preparedness in the case of future acts of terrorism.”

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