Approximately 80 percent of the requested funding, over $24 million, would be used to benefit municipalities and their first responders through direct grants, equipment purchases, training programs, and support services.
"The security and preparedness of this state remains one of my top priorities," said Governor Rell. "We must continue to fight aggressively for sufficient homeland security funding that reflects our unique vulnerabilities and strategic location as the 'gatekeeper' for New England. I am very concerned about the federal government's consistent reductions in homeland security funding while our threats have not abated."
Under new rules for the State Homeland Security Grant (SHSG) program established under the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, each state is only guaranteed homeland security funding of $7.13 million beginning October 1, 2006. Any funding above this amount will be based on a competitive review process and risk assessment formula developed by the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Connecticut is applying for approximately $23.7 million in additional federal funding over the guaranteed base amount.
The Department of Emergency developed the state's application by forming eight working groups made up of local and state officials to review priority areas identified by the federal government and to make strategic recommendations for continued improvement. Over 100 local officials including police, fire, medical, and public health professionals joined representatives from 30 state agencies in providing input for the application.
"I am extremely pleased with the wide array of local and state officials involved in this painstaking process over the past two months," said Governor Rell. "Connecticut has developed a comprehensive and realistic funding application by ensuring that local first responders had input."
DHS provided initial application guidance to the states in January. The application deadline was March 2.
Connecticut identified the following seven priority areas for additional funding and emphasis as part of its application: expanding regional collaboration, communications interoperability, expansion of the Connecticut Intelligence Center, secure communications, natural and man-made disaster preparedness, medical preparation and response, public outreach and all-hazards planning.
Connecticut's funding priorities were approved by the state's Homeland Security Coordinating Council. The grant application will now go through a multi-stage federal review process including peer and agency reviews. The state expects to be notified of its final funding allocation by DHS in June.
Governor Rell has been strongly critical of severely reduced federal homeland security funding over the past two years. Connecticut received nearly $46 million in homeland security funding in Fiscal 2004 and $21 million in Fiscal 2005.
"The threats have not abated. Nature has not gone away. The need for equitable and sensible funding has not ended," Governor Rell wrote in October 2005 letters to the Connecticut Congressional delegation and separate letters to the chairs of the House and Senate committees on homeland security then considering the Homeland Security Appropriations Act.
"Of the money available for the SHSG program, states will receive a mere 0.75 percent in guaranteed funding," the Governor wrote. "The balance is to be distributed by the Department of Homeland Security based on risk, though how -- or when -- that assessment is to be made is not clear. In essence, the Conference Report reduces the vast majority of homeland security funding to a lobbying contest. States that are most successful in making their case before the Department of Homeland Security will get the bulk of the funding. Those that are not -- will not."
Governor Rell also protested the cuts in Fiscal 2005 funding, which reflected the loss of a $10 million Urban Area Security Initiative grant for the New Haven Harbor. The regional depot of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is located in New Haven Harbor, as well as a major pipeline carrying aviation fuel to Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks and aviation facilities in Massachusetts.
