Dodd, Lieberman Announce $1.8 Million for Connecticut in Homeland Security Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today announced that Connecticut will receive $1,765,000 from the Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, including $300,000 for a new pier at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London. The legislation will now go to the President for his signature.

"The Homeland Security funding bill will help support emergency response in Hartford, Torrington, and Westport—all of whom deserve all the resources they need to protect their communities," said Dodd. "The legislation also includes an additional $10 million for FIRE grants, a critical program that will help fire departments in Connecticut improve their response capabilities."

"The Coast Guard Academy richly deserves the funding it has received from the Homeland Security appropriations bill to rebuild a pier to dock the tall ship Eagle," Lieberman said. "But I am particularly proud that Hartford, Torrington, and Westport will get money for badly needed security upgrades. I look forward to the day when these grant programs are more fully open and competitive, at which point Connecticut would likely receive even more funding. In the meantime, I am grateful for this $1.8 million boost to Connecticut's security."

The following towns and projects will be supported through the FY2010 Homeland Security Appropriations bill:

New London

• $300,000 to begin the construction of a new pier at the United States Coast Guard Academy to berth the tall ship Eagle.

The Eagle is currently one of two remaining commissioned sailing vessels in American government service, the other being the USS Constitution anchored in Boston, Massachusetts. For more than 60 years, the Eagle berthed at the Coast Guard Academy, where it serves as a training vessel for cadets. Since the pier fell into disrepair, the Eagle has been docked at Fort Trumbull while waiting for funding to be approved to build a new pier for the historical vessel at the Academy.

Hartford

• $800,000 for the Public Safety Complex in the City of Hartford

Torrington

• $400,000 to expand the Emergency Operations Center that serves Torrington and Litchfield County

Westport

• $265,000 to replace the Westport Fire Department's emergency generator

The bill also includes $390 million for FIRE grants and $420 million for SAFER grants, two federal programs that help strengthen local fire departments. In 2000, Dodd authored and Lieberman cosponsored the FIRE Act, which gives local fire departments the ability to purchase new equipment and initiate education and training programs. In 2003, Dodd authored and Lieberman cosponsored the SAFER Act, a law that gives local fire departments the ability to alleviate critical shortfalls in professional and volunteer personnel.

In July, Dodd and Lieberman also authored an amendment to the FY 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations bill that provided an additional $10 million in funding for FIRE grants program.