HR 6748

110th CONGRESS
2d Session

H. R. 6748

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to limit the number of Urban Area Security Initiative grants awarded and to clarify the risk assessment formula to be used when making such grants, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 31, 2008

Mrs. LOWEY (for herself, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. ENGEL, and Mr. SMITH of New Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security

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A BILL

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to limit the number of Urban Area Security Initiative grants awarded and to clarify the risk assessment formula to be used when making such grants, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. DISTRIBUTION AND AWARDING OF URBAN AREA SECURITY INITIATIVE GRANTS.

(a) Limitation on Number of Urban Area Security Initiative Grants- Section 2003(b)(1) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 604(b)(1)) is amended by inserting `not more than 35' after `designate'.

(b) Risk Assessment Formula- The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended--

(1) in section 2003(b)(2)(A) (6 U.S.C. 604(b)(2)(A)), in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting `in accordance with section 2007(c)' after `shall conduct'; and

(2) in section 2007 (6 U.S.C. 608)--

(A) in subsection (a)(1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting `in accordance with subsection (c)' after `terrorism'; and

(B) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

`(c) Risk Assessment Formula- In allocating the funds referred to in subsection (a), the Administrator shall, when weighing considerations of threat, vulnerability, and consequences from acts of terrorism, assign to threat a percentage value that is not less than 33.'.

(c) Clarification of Minimum Allocation To Apply Only to State Homeland Security Grants- Clauses (i) through (v) of section 2004(e)(1)(A) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 605(e)(1)(A)) are amended by striking `and section 2003' each place it appears.

(d) Abolition of Tier and Related Systems- Notwithstanding any guidance or regulations issued to the contrary, in carrying out the Urban Area Security Initiative grant program, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall disregard the Tier system used to determine the awarding of such grants, and may not make use of any such similar system to determine the awarding of such grants.

(e) Effective Date- This Act (and the amendments made by this Act) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to grants made on or after such date.

END