Washington, D.C.-  Representative Edward Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee made the following statement in response to today’s announcement by the Department of Homeland Security that Boston-area cities were among cities in 29 states identified nationally to apply for a portion of the $740 million of funding allotted by the Department of Homeland Security for Fiscal Year 2006 under the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).  This funding falls short of the $830 million funding levels for the UASI program in 2005.    According to the Department of Homeland Security, the UASI funding is provided to both address national disasters and enhance capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, or recover from Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive disasters or attacks, and prevent agriculture, and cyber terrorism incidents. 

“I am pleased that Boston, Everett, Revere, Winthrop and surrounding communities will be eligible for federal funding set aside for regions facing particularly difficult homeland security challenges.  The LNG terminal in Everett, Logan Airport in Boston and the presence of industries vital to our regional and national economies make the Boston area a tempting target for terrorists.  While the Boston area’s eligibility for this funding is welcome news, it is still unclear how changes to the funding criteria will affect the level of funding our region receives.  I have been a longstanding supporter of the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and the distribution of homeland security funding based on risk, rather than population or geography, and I will be closely watching the application process to ensure that the Boston area receives the funding it needs under this program,” said Rep. Markey.

When the UASI program was initiated in 2003 Boston-area cities were initially left off the list for funding.  DHS eventually added Boston-area cities to the list after Rep. Markey and other members of the Massachusetts delegation sent a letter to DHS requesting that this important area with its terrorist targets be funded.

For Immediate Release
January 3, 2006

 CONTACT: Tara McGuinness
Mark Bayer
202.225.2836