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9.A-16 CONGRESS ACTS ON APPROPRIATIONS FOR HOMELAND SECURITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HOUSING Congress in recent weeks has acted on three appropriations bills important to local government: homeland security, law enforcement and housing. Below is an update on each of these bills. FY 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations A $29.3 billion FY 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, H.R. 2555, was approved by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on July 10. The bill will fund first responders, border and transportation security, immigration control, the Coast Guard, Secret Service, and various other activities of the Department of Homeland Security. The bill provides $3.8 billion for state and local homeland security funding, including: • $1.75 billion for the State Homeland Security Formula Grant Program. States are required to pass through no less than 80% of these funds to local governments within 45 days after the States' receipt. Within this amount, $500 million is pro- vided for new State and Local Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Grants. • $750 million for High- Threat, High- Density Urban Areas. States are required to pass through no less than 80% of these funds to local govern- ments within 45 days after the States' receipt. $750 million for Firefighter Assistance Grants. $165 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants. • No funding provided for Critical Infrastructure Grants. • $500 million for High- Threat, High - Density Urban Areas. States are required to pass through no less than 80% of these funds to local govern- ments within 60 days after the States' receipt. • $200 million for Critical Infrastructure Grants. States are required to pass through no less than 80% of these funds to local governments within 60 days after the States' receipt. • $750 million for Firefighter Assistance Grants. • $168 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants. In addition, the Committee directs the Depart- ment of Homeland Security, through the Office for State and Local Government Coordination, to formalize a process for States to incorporate local governments in the development and review of State homeland security plans. The House and Senate must now meet in conference to reconcile the differences between the two bills, before the legislation can be sent to the President for signature. FY 2004 Commerce, Justice, State and Judi- ciary Appropriations On July 23, the House approved its FY 2004 Commerce Justice, State and the Judiciary Appro- priations bill (H.R. 2799). The $37.9 billion bill provides $3.5 billion to assist State and local law enforcement criminal justice programs and activi- ties, including: The House passed its homeland security spending bill last month. The $29.4 billion bill provides $4.4 billion for the Office of Domestic Preparedness (ODP), Firefighters, and Emergency Management, including: • $1.9 billion for the State Homeland Security Formula Grant Program. States are required to pass through no less than 80% of these funds to local governments within 60 days after the States' receipt. • $500 million for new State and Local Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Grants. States are required to pass through no less than 80% of these funds to local governments within 60 days after the States' receipt. • $500 million for the Edward Byrne Memorial Formula program. • $400 million for the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant. • $462 million for juvenile delinquency preven- tion and accountability programs. • $253.7 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, including $100 million for the COPS Law Enforcement Technology program, and $60 million to combat methamphet- amine production and distribution. No funds are provided for COPS Universal Hiring grants. Continued on Page 10 PAGE 4 /PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site-- www.cacities.org