Blake Moore: “I rise to support this amendment. In fact, I had an identical amendment to strike this restrictive language with respect…”

“I rise to support this amendment. In fact, I had an identical amendment to strike this restrictive language with respect to the Urban Area Security Initiative. In fiscal year 2010, over 60 urban areas, including my own City of Milwaukee, were eligible for formula assistance under this grant because they met the Department of Homeland Security's risk assessment analysis. But the legislation before us would arbitrarily tie the Secretary's hands from distributing these funds to any cities that fall outside the top 10 so-called most vulnerable. {time} 2010 Since 2004, the city of Milwaukee and the surrounding counties that surround Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington, and Waukesha have obtained nearly $400 million in this UASI funding to enhance the safety of over 2 million residents. And even though this assistance has been small, we are very, very proud of what we have been able to accomplish in terms of securing the area. For example, in Milwaukee, my constituents are safer because we have used this assistance to train emergency medical teams, train and equip hazardous material and bomb squads, create continuity of operations plans, and to analyze intelligence. It also helps to fund our Intelligence Fusion Center, a place to collect and exchange information from government, public safety, private sector, and all levels of enforcement.…”