Russ Feingold: “I am pleased to again be an original cosponsor of Senator Collins' Homeland Security Grant Enhancement Act. This…”

“I am pleased to again be an original cosponsor of Senator Collins' Homeland Security Grant Enhancement Act. This important legislation will coordinate and simplify the often complicated and confusing homeland security grant process. This bill will make it much easier for local first responders to get funding by reducing the many, and often redundant, grant applications steps. The amendment also gives local officials far more flexibility in spending homeland security dollars, including paying for overtime costs associated with homeland security tasks and training. Successful programs, such as FIRE Act grants, the COPS program, and the Emergency Management Performance Grant program, are protected in this legislation. The legislation also tackles the controversial topic of how to allocate funding. I believe it has struck a fair balance by both allocating funding based on threat, as recommended by the 9/11 Commission and others, and maintaining baseline funding so that States and local officials can have a predictable stream of funding to meet the homeland security needs faced by all jurisdictions.”