Lowey Announces $42.8 Million in Federal Emergency Preparedness Grants for New York Area Transit Systems and Ports

WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Nita Lowey (Westchester/Rockland), the Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee, today announced $42,895,811 million in FY2015 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) emergency preparedness grants for the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and the New York/New Jersey Port Authority, an increase of $11,055,336 over last year's allocation.

"These federal emergency preparedness investments will enhance resiliency of our region and save lives," said Lowey. "I'm pleased New York is receiving an increase in funding for security activities. We must do all we can to strengthen the nation's critical infrastructure against risks associated with potential terrorist attacks. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue fighting to ensure New York receives its fair share of emergency preparedness funding."

MTA will receive $22,347,341 from FEMA's Transit Security Grant Program, an increase of $4,246,037 over last year, to directly support transportation infrastructure security activities. This funding helps protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and to increase the resiliency of transit infrastructure.

The New York/New Jersey Port Authority will receive $20,548,470 from FEMA's Port Security Grant Program, an increase of $6,809,299 over last year, to directly support maritime transportation infrastructure security activities. This funding is intended to improve port-wide maritime security risk management; enhance maritime domain awareness; support maritime security training and exercises; and maintain or reestablish maritime security mitigation protocols that support port recovery and resiliency capabilities.

New York is the nation's metropolitan area at highest risk of terror attack. Congresswoman Lowey believes strongly that the region must receive the largest share of federal homeland security funding, and will not allow New York to be short-changed in order to fund areas facing little to no risk. That is why she has worked successfully to:

* Limit the number of Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant recipients to avoid diluting the share for high-risk areas like New York; and

* Amend the PATRIOT Act to increase the percentage of dollars allocated on the basis of risk, which The New York Times called "the only acceptable approach that meets the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission."

Read this original document at: http://lowey.house.gov/press-releases/lowey-announces-428-million-in-federal-emergency-preparedness-grants-for-new-york-area-transit-systems-and-ports/