Matsui Continues to Fight for UASI Funding for Sacramento Region
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 2, 2011
CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163
Matsui Continues to Fight for UASI Funding for Sacramento Region
Federal Funding for Local Security Initiatives are Critical to Keeping Area Safe
This week Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) continued her fight to ensure that Sacramento receives the federal support it needs to ensure the region is as protected from the threats of terrorism as possible, by arguing for the reinstatement of federal funding for the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) in the Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The House started consideration on the bill Wednesday, and is expected to complete later today.
The UASI program was recently targeted for significant cuts by House Republicans in the Fiscal Year 2011 continuing resolution resulting in Sacramento and many other sizable communities receiving zero funding for security measures and is capped to only allow 10 U.S. cities to receive the funding in Fiscal Year 2012.
Sacramento is the capital of California, the most populous state in the Union, and the 7th largest economy in the world, Matsui said. It is critical to continue to support the anti- and counter- terrorism work being done there. It is unacceptable to leave this region without appropriate funding to ensure its protection as Sacramento, and the region as a whole, have important security needs.
Congresswoman Matsui put her support behind two amendments to the Homeland Security appropriations bill to support the UASI program. The first amendment calls for an increase of funding to the State and Local Programs, which includes the UASI program. The Cicilline/Langevin/Matsui/Berkley/Ellison amendment would have increased funding by $337 million, but did garner enough votes to pass.
The second amendment Matsui supported would remove the arbitrary cap for UASI funding to go to only 10 U.S. cities, leaving all other cities to fend for themselves. This amendment was passed 273-150, and will be included in the legislation as it moves toward a final vote.
Congresswoman Matsui addressed her colleagues on the House floor Wednesday, urging members to support the UASI programs because of its ability to bring together federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies; facilitating communication, training and support in regards to counter-terrorist activities. She specifically highlighted the fact that UASI funding enabled the creation and development of one of the nation's foremost counter-terrorism and readiness task forces, located at the former McClellan Air Force Base, in Sacramento.
This facility has greatly enhanced the collaboration and communication amongst local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and first responders, she said. From there officials are better able to prevent attacks by training, sharing information, and coordinating investigations. In the unthinkable scenario in which an attack does occur, this facility will better able the region's law enforcement and first responders to react and respond to an attack. The coordination and collaborative efforts at this facility are crucial and would help limit further harm.
Congresswoman Matsui has been a longtime supporter of the UASI program and had vowed to continue fighting for federal support for local security measures that will keep the Sacramento region safe. In 2006, Congresswoman Matsui was successful in securing UASI funding for Sacramento after it was initially deemed ineligible for federal funding. Congresswoman Matsui worked with FEMA to ensure that all threats to Sacramento were taken into account.
To see Congresswoman Matsui's speeches in support of the two amendments, please click HERE and HERE. For more information about Congresswoman Matsui's work in Congress, please visit www.matsui.house.gov
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