by V?ronique Pluviose-Fenton

After a brisk debate, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs unanimously passed S. 21, the Homeland Security Grant Enhancement Act of 2005, a bill that would alter the distribution formula for first responder grants. 
Although senators noted their reservations, they remarked that S. 21, authored by Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), was a compromise between the needs of large- and small- population states.

The amended bill also made an attempt to incorporate the Department of Homeland Security?s proposal that the distribution of funds be based on threat as opposed to an all-hazards funding scheme.

?We need to be driven by risk, said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. ?We don?t have money to waste,? he added.

S. 21 would combine the first responder grants programs and guarantee that all states receive a minimum funding at .55 percent, as compared to the current .75 percent they are receiving. 

The remainder of the homeland security funds would be distributed on a sliding scale based on population, population density and risk-based threat, as assessed by the Department of Homeland Security. 

Overall, the bill would authorize $2.9 billion in first-responder grants over the next two years.

The bill?s distribution formula differs from the Administration?s proposal to reduce state homeland security grants from the current .75 percent to .25 percent, guaranteeing each state a minimum funding of $2.6 million based on ?risk, and an application-based review of need, and consistency with national priorities.?

Two amendments were adopted by the committee.  An amendment from Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) would support an interoperability demonstration project that would cover the border areas of the United States/Canada/Mexico. 

The committee also adopted an amendment offered by Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and John Warner (R-Va.) to require the Department of Homeland Security to amend the risk factors list to include areas that have been previously attacked or placed on a high threat list.

Noticeably absent from the bill was language that would provide funding for interoperable public safety communication equipment and spectrum. 

NLC is lobbying the Senate and House Commerce Committees to persuade them that access to the spectrum would provide vital and necessary support to first responders. 

Specifically, NLC is pressing Congress to establish a firm date for the release of the spectrum for public safety communication.

The National League of Cities, which does not take a position on the distribution funding formula, lobbied for a first responder authorization bill that improves funding for first responders to target terrorism threats in highly-populated and high-threat areas, with flexibility to use the funds for dual-uses (risk and all-hazards) pursuant to their state homeland security plans.