At Senate Hearing, Ridge Announces Start
Of Application Process For New First-Responder Funds

Vermont Assured $11 M. Under Leahy’s All-State Minimum Formula 

WASHINGTON (Wed., April 30) – Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge Wednesday told Sen. Patrick Leahy and other senators that his department will expedite release of new funds approved by Congress this month for first-responder agencies.   Ridge announced that beginning today, state and local agencies can begin applying for the funds online.

Ridge made the announcement during today’s hearing by the Senate Appropriations Committee’s new Subcommittee on Homeland Security.   Leahy is a member of the new panel, which will handle the Senate’s work in writing the new department’s budget bills.  The State of Vermont can begin applying for $13.147 million in federal grant money intended to help first responders and other organizations prepare for and prevent acts of terrorism.

Of the $13.147 million Vermont will receive, $11.394 million was allocated to Vermont under a provision Leahy authored in the USA PATRIOT ACT of 2001 providing an all-state minimum to guarantee states like Vermont receive at least 0.75 percent of the national allotment of the first responder initiative grant program.  The remaining $1.753 million will be distributed based on the Homeland Security Department’s assessment of states’ needs to secure critical infrastructure under the government’s Liberty Shield program.

“I commend Secretary Ridge for moving quickly to start the process of getting these funds to those on the front lines of the war on terrorism here at home,” said Leahy.  “Our firefighters, police, rescue squads and health workers have readily accepted the new responsibilities the federal government has given them.  All they have been asking for is a true partnership that also includes adequate resources to help them do that job.”

In March, the Department of Homeland Security released nearly $5 million in grant money for Vermont's first responders under the same Leahy provision.

Leahy has also led in pushing for major added help to first responders.  In February he introduced The First Responders Partnership Grant Act (S.315) to charter a new $4 billion Justice Department grant program to support first responders in their efforts to protect homeland security and prevent and respond to acts of terrorism.   His efforts played a role in increasing the funds that are being made available through today’s application process.

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