CT GETS OVER $11 MILLION IN SECURITY FUNDING

Grants Will Go To Port, Transit Security, Among Other Needs

WASHINGTON—Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., Thursday announced that Connecticut will receive $11,830,826 in federal homeland security grants.  Preliminary totals for several of these grants were announced in December and today’s announcement reflects the final allocation for the grants listed below.

“While Connecticut’s overall funding levels are strong, I am disappointed that funding to protect our ports on Long Island sound was decreased significantly this year,” Lieberman said.  “And while transit security grants have increased somewhat over last year, I am deeply concerned that funding for Connecticut remains inadequate to protect the commuter trains that run between Connecticut and New York City to the extent that they should be.  The case of Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad reminds us that terror attacks are sometimes planned and conceived far from the eventual target.

“Regrettably, the total amount of funding available nationally for port and transit security grants has been declining, with 25 percent less funding appropriated for these programs in FY 2010 than in FY 2009.  I will continue to fight for this vital funding which is central to our national effort to prevent, prepare for, and respond to acts of terrorism and natural disasters.”

 For more information on the grants, please visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website here.

 A complete list of the funds is as follows:

·         Port Security Grant Program - $2,257,341 for the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to secure the Long Island Sound

·         Port Security Grant Program - $231,825 for the City of Norwich to secure Norwich Harbor

·         Transit Security Grant Program - $5,229,587 for the Connecticut Department of Transportation

·         Transit Security Grant Program - $237,000 for Connecticut Transit

·         Intercity Bus Security Grant Program - $300,977 to DATTCO, Inc.

·         Intercity Bus Security Grant Program - $107,793 to Nason Partners, LLC

·         Emergency Operations Center Grant Program - $800,000 for the City of Hartford

·         Emergency Operations Center Grant Program - $540,126 to East Haddam for construction

·         Emergency Operations Center Grant Program - $400,000 for the City of Torrington

·         Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program - $525,500 for the State

·         Buffer Zone Protection Program - $400,000 for the State

·         Driver’s License Security Grant Program - $800,677 for the State

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