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ØI~s FEDERAL UPDATE from page 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . already adjoumed for the week, making it unlikely solely based on population instead be allocated that lawmakers could meet to resolve the differ- according to risk factors. The bill will provide $3.3 ences in time. billion for grant programs directed toward state and local first responders, including nearly identi- cal amounts from two pots: $1.155 billion for risk- and threat-based grants for urban areas, and $1.135 billion for grants that have historically used a federal funding formula that has been heavily skewed to favor small states over large states (and has provided more than six times as much money per capita to Wyoming, North Dakota and Vermont as it has to California, New York, or Texas). Sen. Ted Stevens (Alaska) offered an amend- ment to the FY 2006 Defense Appropriations bill that restores funding to the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program. The amendment was adopted by voice vote. The Senate is unlikely to conclude debate on the FY 2006 Defense spending measure today and will renew floor negotiations on bill next week. Reconciliation. Congressional leaders still intend to comply with reconciliation instructions outlined in the FY 2006 Budget Resolution. While House and Senate authorizing committees were originally scheduled to report $34.7 billion in spending cuts to their respective budget commit- tees on September 16, that date was pushed back to the week of October 17 to permit lawmakers ample time to respond to Hurricane Katrina. In the wake of providing disaster aid to the Gulf Coast region, House and Senate leaders have sought to encourage deeper cuts in federal pro- grams to offset the high cost of providing relief and rebuilding the region. Meanwhile House and Senate moderate Republicans and Democrats contend that now is not the time to impose cuts to Medicaid, food stamps, and other programs for the poor that are likely targets of the reconciliation instructions. Homeland Security. House-Senate confer- ees approved a $31.9 billion FY 2006 Homeland Security Appropriations bill on Thursday, Septem- ber 29. The conference report on the bill (H.R. 2360), which was approved by unanimous con- sent, is expect to come to the House floor some- time next \Neek. The bill includes $30.8 billion for the Depart- ment of Homeland Security (DHS), an increase of $1.4 billion from the FY 2005 level. In a victory for high-risk/high-threat states (such as California) the bill would require that the 60 percent of "basic formula" funding that to date has been allocated As a result, California's current 8 percent share could increase to as much as 10-13 per- cent. The $1.155 billion for "high-density urban areas" includes $765 million for traditional urban area grants, which DHS distributes according to risk and threat information, plus $150 million for rail security, $175 million for port security, and $65 million for other infrastructure protection activities. The formula funding portion includes $550 million for basic formula grants, $400 million for the state and local law enforcement terrorism prevention program (LETPP), and $185 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG). However, the conference report includes a change that could improve California's share of these formula funds considerably, by dividing a portion of funds (after large guarantees for small states have been extracted), in part according to risk and threat. In the past, these funds were distributed solely according to state population, with risk factors unaccounted for. Also within the first responder funding account is $655 million for firefighter grants. Traditionally focused on rural fire departments, the program limits any total grant to $750,000, regardless of whether the recipient is a volunteer fire depart- ment in a town of 1 ,200 people, or a large city department, such as Los Angeles or San Fran- cisco. Continued on Page 6 PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 5 Visit the League's Official Websiteuwww.cacities.org . U""UðI 11"....,.. II"'ðU"'- I IIC UIICulUI V ClI"'U