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Homeland Security task force to examine funding issues

Emergency Management Alert, March 23, 2004

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) created a Homeland Security Funding Task Force last week, consisting of state, county, city, and tribal representatives to examine the funding process. The task force will help funds move quickly to local first responders by identifying state and local funding solutions that work.

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is the chair of the task force. Ohio Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic will serve as vice chair.

 
DHS Secretary Tom Ridge expects recommendations from the task force members and within the next two months on how to expedite the money distribution process.

"The Department of Homeland Security shares the concerns of communities anticipating these funds," Ridge says. "It is critical that the men and women on the front lines of the war against terror have the resources they need to do their jobs. By identifying best practices and determining ways to implement them across the country, the task force will put homeland security dollars into the hands of first responders more rapidly."

DHS has already taken immediate action to speed the flow of grant funds to first responders, including:

• Simplifying the application process by providing one electronic application for the State Homeland Security Grant Program, Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program grants, and the Citizen Corps grant program. 
  
• Facilitating conference calls between cities, counties, and states to enhance communication, identify obstacles in the grants flow, and search for best funding distribution practices. DHS is extending an offer to all 30 cities receiving fiscal year 2003 Urban Area Security Initiative funds to replicate this process.

• Integrating the grant listings. DHS created http://www.dhs.gov/grants as a one-stop shop for information and applications for DHS all-hazards grants and homeland security grants from other federal departments. 
  
•  Streamlining the grant application process by eliminating the preliminary review of budget information and implementing new reporting and monitoring mechanisms to make funding available immediately upon grant award.  
  
• Conditionally approving state or urban area security strategies provided that all issues are addressed within a set time period.  While the release of funds is contingent upon approval of a security strategy, conditional approval immediately puts money in the hands of first responders.
  
• Implementing an aggressive timeline by which states must give funds to local jurisdictions within 60 days of receiving their grants package.

• Offering alternative options for equipment procurement, through agreements with the Defense Logistics Agency and Marine Corps Systems Command to allow grantees to procure equipment directly from their purchasing schedules.  These agreements provide alternatives to state and local procurement processes and often result in more rapid product delivery at a lower cost.
  

Source DHS, http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/index.jsp

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