Washington - Today, the U.S. Senate passed the FY2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, which contains funding vital to public safety, including $1.3 million for key emergency operations and pre-disaster mitigation projects in New Jersey, which Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) helped secure. These funds are intended to improve security on our nation's borders and in transportation systems, as well as to ensure emergency systems and first responders are properly funded and equipped.

"The security of our families and communities has to always be a top priority, no matter what other major challenges we are facing in our state and nation," said Senator Menendez. "In New Jersey, we understand better than just about anywhere else the importance of preparedness. These security investments will help guarantee our state's first responders and public safety system are adequately prepared to coordinate and function efficiently should an emergency arise. I am proud to have helped secure this funding and look forward to continue working hard to ensure our the security of our state and nation."


Senator Menendez helped secure a total of $1,347,000 in funding for the following projects in New Jersey from the FY2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill:

Emergency Operations Center--City of Hackensack --$300,000

Hackensack seeks to build a new police training and emergency services facility at the base of Johnson Park. The location of this building will accommodate classroom and distance learning, on-site police and fire training as well as serve as an additional satellite emergency services location. Additionally, being directly on the Hackensack River will allow the police, fire and EMS an opportunity in the future to construct a boat ramp which will allow for a point of access to the Hackensack River on the west side of the city. Funds would be used to construct the facility.

Emergency Operations Center --County of Union--$500,000

Union County is seeking to enhance the county's emergency operations center telecommunications and technology capabilities to ensure first responders can effectively coordinate any response to a man-made or natural disaster. This project would improve communication between the county's municipalities, utility companies and first responders. Funds would be used to purchase and implement the equipment upgrades.

Emergency Operations Center --Township of South Orange Village--$247,000

South Orange is seeking to replace the emergency power generator in secondary emergency operations center (EOC). Funds would be used for the replacement and installation of the generator.

Predisaster Mitigation--City of Trenton--$300,000

This project is designed to prevent and protect Trenton's water filtration plant from flood damage. Potential flood damage to the plant could cause service interruptions and have an adverse impact on the public health of residents dependent upon the drinking water supply. The requested funding would be used to make improvements to prevent damage to the sump pump system, install new flood doors, water proof to prevent damage and relocate instrumentation to higher ground.

National homeland security funding:

$4.17 billion, nearly $300 million above the administration's request, in Homeland Security Grants will be awarded nationwide to first responders and partners in homeland security, including:

State Grants -- $950 million --matching the request and 2009 funding level, for grants used to plan, equip and train local first responders to respond to terrorist attacks and catastrophic incidents, including $60 million for Operation Stonegarden.

Urban Area Security Grants --$887 million --matching the request and $50 million above 2009, to help high-risk urban communities prevent, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks.

Rail/Transit Security Grants -- $300 million --$50 million above the request, to protect critical transit infrastructure, including freight rail, Amtrak and ferry systems in high-threat areas.

Port Security Grants -- $300 million --$50 million above the request, to assist ports in enhancing maritime domain awareness and enhancing risk management capabilities to prevent, detect, and respond to terrorist attacks.

Emergency Management Performance Grants-- $340 million --$25 million above the request and 2009, for all-hazard grants for state and local emergency managers.

Fire Grants (including SAFER)-- $810 million --$220 million above the request and $35 million above 2009, to help local fire departments address communication, equipment and staffing problems. Of this total, $420 million is for SAFER, as requested, and $390 million is for fire grants.

Metropolitan Medical Response System-- $41 million -- $1 million above the request, to help high-threat communities respond to mass casualty incidents.

Interoperable Communications--$50 million-- matching the request and 2009, for help firefighters and emergency responders talk to each other during a crisis.

Emergency Operations Centers: $60 million -- $25 million above 2009, to equip and upgrade central command facilities used by emergency personnel during disasters.

Chemical Security: $103.4 million -- for risk-based chemical facility security including $25 million above 2009 to support the coordination and management of regulating high-risk chemical facilities. The increase, combined with the conversion of contract employees to federal employees, will bring the total DHS chemical facility regulatory staffing to 246, which is 168 above 2009. The bill also includes a one year extension of DHS's regulatory authority to secure chemical facilities.

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