Grants Network™: Research Subscribers Receive Early Notification on Grant Funding Increases in the Improving America’s Security Act

PASADENA, Calif. (August 22, 2007) - eCivis is dedicated to providing our clients with advanced notification on upcoming federal grant programs by tracking bills through Congress.

President Bush signed the enrolled Homeland Security Bill, H.R. 1, on August 3, 2007. The legislation, also known as the “Improving America’s Security Act,” will carry out unfulfilled recommendations by the September 11 Commission made three years ago in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Information on eighteen new and updated grant programs derived from this bill is now available to Grants Network: Research (GN: R) subscribers.

Appropriated funds will support thirteen new grant programs that appear in GN: R, including:

• Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant
• Border Interoperability Demonstration Project
• Rural Policing Institute
• National Domestic Preparedness Consortium
• Public Transportation Research and Development
• Over-the-Road Bus Security Assistance
• Over-the-Road Bus Security Research and Development
• Protection of Passenger Planes from Explosives
• Emergency Medical and Public Health Communications Pilot Projects
• State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center Initiative

Increased funding will also be appropriated to high-risk states and cities such as New York City and Washington, D.C. The bill makes additional recommendations for expanding air and sea cargo inspections, and authorizes more than $4 billion for rail, transit, and bus security over the next four years. New programs associated with the $4 billion authorization identified in the enrolled bill and added to Grants Network: Research include:

• Public Transportation Security Assistance: $650 million
• Railroad Security Assistance: $300 million
• Railroad Security Research and Development: $33 million

In addition, the Intercity Passenger Rail (Amtrak) Supplemental program was updated in GN: R to reflect $150 million in FY 2008 funding.

The bill will also significantly increase funding for a number of existing Homeland Security and Emergency Management Performance Grant programs:

• State Homeland Security Grant Program: $950 million (a $425 million increase from FY 2007 appropriations)
• Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program: $450 million ($75 million increase)
• Urban Area Security Initiative: $850 million ($104 million increase)
• Emergency Management Performance Grants: $400 million ($194 million increase)

More details on the grant programs listed above, such as appropriate uses of funding, examples of eligible projects, and funding agency expectations, are available to eCivis clients in the online GN: R system and the articles published in Grants Network.

Appropriated funds listed in this legislation are anticipated to be reflected in the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. Further action on the appropriations bill is expected in the coming months. eCivis will continue to track the bill and post updates as they become available.