Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, succeeded in getting more homeland security grant funding for first responders in rural states under a provision included in the Department of Homeland Security’s annual spending bill.
The formula approved Tuesday guarantees minimum grants to rural states and doubles the amount of money to be sent to high-risk areas.
Collins, R-Maine, said the provision “struck the right balance” by allocating money based on risk but also guaranteeing a minimum for states like Maine.
“It was the recognition that every state has vulnerabilities and needs,” said Collins, chairwoman of the Homeland Security Committee.
Her provision was added to the Department of Homeland Security’s annual spending bill on a 71-26 vote.
“This legislation takes needed steps to safeguard our homeland without leaving less populous states behind,” said Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, who supported the bill.
The legislation must be reconciled with a House version that would guarantee small states less than half as much money. Neither Mainer will sit on the conference committee, but the chief opponent to Collins’ strategy, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., sits on the Appropriations Committee that handles the legislation
As it stands, small states are currently guaranteed at least 0.75 percent of the total. But President Bush proposed 0.25 percent in his budget, to focus more on protecting sites considered at greatest risk of attack.
Collins would guarantee 0.55 percent for the smallest states, such as Maine, and as much as 3 percent for California. Her guaranteed grants would consume 40 percent of the overall funding, with the rest distributed based on risk.
Maine would get $10.55 million under the Collins provision, after receiving $16.6 million this year and $23.7 million last year. Under the Bush or Feinstein proposals, Maine would get $4.8 million.
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Information from: Portland Press Herald, https://www.pressherald.com
AP-ES-07-13-05 1307EDT
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