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Reduced Homeland Funding for Local Governments

Program needs to be fully funded so that local governments can further develop disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery plans.

Larry Naake, executive director of The National Association of Counties (NACo), this week issued the following statement regarding federal budget reductions of $406 million in FY 2005 and $745 million in FY 2006 in homeland security grant funds for state and local first responders:

"The federal government's $1.1 billion cut over the past two years in homeland security grant funding is undermining local government's ability to protect the public and effectively respond to acts of terror or natural disasters.

"County governments and local first responders are the first to the scene when disaster strikes whether man-made or natural. That is why counties and public safety officials all across the country continue to work tirelessly to develop comprehensive strategies to protect the public and save as many lives as possible in those first few critical moments after disaster hits home.

"As the only national association representing county governments, NACo feels strongly that Congress and the White House must reverse the trend of less federal money going to the nation's first responders.

"NACo applauds the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's needs-based community safety grant programs. Communities must plan and submit well-researched grant proposals for federal funding consideration. This helps ensure that real public safety needs in our communities are being addressed by those empowered to protect us. However, the program needs to be fully funded so that local governments can further develop disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery plans.

"Congress has yet to finish the spending bill for FY 2007. NACo stands ready to work with Congress and the administration to ensure that our nation's first responders are not short-changed."