Pelosi Announces Increased Homeland Security Funding for San Francisco Bay Area

Contact:Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced today the fiscal year 2008 Homeland Security grants for the San Francisco Bay Area, including $37 million for Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and an additional $1.1 million as part of the UASI Nonprofit Security Grant Program:

"This grant is a significant victory for the San Francisco Bay Area. UASI funds will be used to enhance emergency communications and interoperability, support regional information-sharing and exercise programs, improve planning for catastrophes and citizen preparedness, and increase the ability to provide mass care in the event of a terrorist attack.

"The first responsibility of our government is the security of our country and the protection of our citizens. We must be prepared for any threat, and the UASI funds will help to ensure that local governments in the Bay Area, working together and with state and federal agencies, are prepared to handle the most challenging scenarios.

"I have long supported the UASI grant program and have helped to secure federal funding to assist with the critical job of protecting our city. The $37 million in UASI funds secured this year represents and an increase of almost 9 percent compared to last year.

"I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to help provide real security to the American people by rebuilding our military, equipping and training our first responders at home, and providing much-needed benefits to our troops and veterans."