Bill Clinton: “I start by saying that as I understand the underlying legislation from the House, there is no language, either…”

“I start by saying that as I understand the underlying legislation from the House, there is no language, either legislative or report, that addresses how the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security should distribute the funding above the small State minimum. The language that my amendment is addressing specifically appears in the report to the Senate bill. So I want everyone to understand that I agree every State should receive a minimum level of funding. I think that is not only politically necessary, it is appropriate and fair. Based on the calculation of that funding, about 38 percent of all of the homeland security funding in the two biggest grant categories for the State homeland security grants and the terrorism prevention grants will go across the board on a per capita basis to all the States. Now, the remaining 62 percent of the money is what my formula amendment is addressing. At the very least, the Senate should not be, in report language, recommending that the Department of Homeland Security also distribute the funding on a per capita basis. That runs absolutely counter to the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.”