John Rice Carter: “In total, this bill provides $1.7 billion for Homeland Security first responder grants. Of that, the bill provides $1…”

“In total, this bill provides $1.7 billion for Homeland Security first responder grants. Of that, the bill provides $1 billion for the Secretary to provide a program that addresses the highest need and risk. However, as we are all aware, not all programs are funded at the previous year's level. Several issues drove these reductions. First, as of today, almost a decade after the establishment of DHS, there is no method of measuring what our Nation is receiving for the $38 billion investment in DHS grants. There are no metrics that indicate how much safer we are today or how much safer we will be if we provide additional funds. This lack of quantitative measurement is intolerable, particularly in today's tight economic times. Second, grant recipients are not spending the funds that have been provided. Of the $38 billion provided for the first responder grants, $13 billion remained unspent. In these trying times, we cannot afford to leave funds sitting on the table when other programs need additional resources and the debt skyrockets. These cuts will not be easy, but they are long overdue and necessary to address the out-of-control Federal spending. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. Point of Order”