Washington - Citing recently-publicized terror threats against the New York New Jersey region, in addition to the Department of Homeland Securitys gross incompetence in identifying and providing resources to at-risk terror targets, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today introduced an amendment that would require Homeland Security grants to be awarded primarily on the basis of risk.

The measure, co-sponsored by Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, is an amendment to the Homeland Security appropriations bill currently under consideration by the Senate. It prohibits funds from the appropriations bill to be used for Homeland Security grants, unless risk is the primary criteria in allocating the funds. The Senate is expected to vote Thursday on the Menendez-Lautenberg amendment.

"As last weeks news confirms, the terrorists can imagine exactly what would happen if they attacked New York and New Jersey," said Menendez. "Yet the Department of Homeland Security clearly doesnt know the New Jersey Turnpike from the Will Rogers Turnpike. The bottom-line is that states and municipalities across the country that are under the greatest risk should receive the greatest number of homeland security dollars based on that risk. Until we recognize that basic truth, until we truly distribute homeland security dollars on risk, America will not be as safe as it can be."

"Homeland Security grants are not just another pork program to be divided up across the country," said Lautenberg. "The terrorists are not targeting Wyoming or Montana. When we waste homeland security money on areas that do not face any threat of attack, we are putting the entire nation at risk."

According the New York Times, the Inspector Generals report on the Department of Homeland Securitys National Database reads like a tally of terrorist targets that a child might have written: Old MacDonalds Petting Zoo, the Amish Country Popcorn factory, the Mule Day Parade. The Inspector General found that the list included items whose criticality is not readily apparent but are still included in the federal antiterrorism database and that the presence of large numbers of out-of-place assets taints the credibility of the data.

The Menendez-Lautenberg amendment prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from awarding grants next fiscal year unless they are based on an assessment of threat, vulnerability, and consequence, to the maximum extent practicable. The amendment also allows, in specific cases, for each state to receive a minimum of .25 percent of the grants. This minimum percentage is also included in House legislation recently endorsed by the former Chair and Vice-Chair of the 9-11 Commission.

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