$3 Billion in DHS Grant Funding

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the release of application guidance for 14 federal grant programs whose collective purpose is to strengthen prevention, protection, response and recovery capabilities at all levels of government. The Department uses the application guidance to set strategic priorities that support President George W. Bush's National Homeland Security Strategy and align with the Department's National Preparedness Guidelines and the recently released National Response Framework. Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 grant programs provide $376.3 million more than last year to enhance the nation's ability to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies.

"This year, we're asking applicants to prioritize preparedness planning and counter IED threats," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.  "We are focusing 25 percent of key program dollars on these priorities, and we're giving communities even greater clarity on how we seek to minimize our collective risk."

Since its inception, DHS has administered $22.7 billion in federal grants to states, territories,urban areas, and transportation authorities. Changes to the FY 2008 grants program include significant improvements based on extensive outreach to state and local preparedness partners. Guidance on all 14 grant programs is being released simultaneously to allow applicants more time to plan and apply for funding, as well as more rapidly begin implementing security measures. Additionally, as part of the recommendations of the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act, the department's regional offices will have an enhanced role in administering grant programs. IPP applications are due to the department no later than March 17, 2008, and HSGP applications are due May 1, 2008.

The grant program allocations for 2008 are:

• Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) - $1.69 billion.  HSGP is comprised of four programs:

• State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) - $862.9 million to enhance state, territorial and local capabilities through planning, equipment, training and exercise activities
• Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) - $781.6 million to build capabilities in 60 high-threat,   high-density urban areas across the country
• Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities - In addition, the department is directing that at least 25 percent of funds allocated from both SHSP and UASI build state and local law enforcement terrorism prevention capabilities
• Metropolitan Medical Response System Program (MMRS)- $39.8 million to 124 MMRS jurisdictions to enhance mass casualty preparedness
• Citizen Corps Program (CCP) - $14.5 million to states and territories to engage citizens in community preparedness

• Infrastructure Protection Program (IPP) - $852.4 million.  IPP is comprised of five overall programs:

• Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) - $388.6 million protect critical transit infrastructure from terrorism, including:

• TSGP to intracity systems - $348.6 million to owners and operators of transit systems, which include intracity bus, rail and ferry systems, focused on employee training, infrastructure protection (e.g. intrusion detection, hardening of tunnel ventilation and drainage systems) and deterrent activities like canine teams
• Intercity Passenger Rail (Amtrak) - $25 million to Amtrak to harden underground and underwater track and tunnels against IEDs, and train key employees in counter-terrorism
• Freight Rail Security Grant Program (FRSGP) - $15 million to target resources through security plans, vulnerability assessments and employee security awareness training

• Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) - $388.6 million to enhance access control and credentialing, protect against IED and other non-conventional attacks, and conduct disaster-response training
• Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP) - $48.5 million to safeguard critical infrastructure sites from terrorist site surveillance or attacks with a focus on public-private partnership and fusion center coordination
• Trucking Security Program (TSP) - $15.5 million to identify and recruit highway professionals (carriers, drivers, first responders, highway workers) to actively