Press Release

May 13, 2010
CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $37 MILLION FOR MARYLAND IN CRITICAL HOMELAND SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND PREPAREDNESS GRANTS



WASHINGTON

U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and
Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded Maryland 2010 Preparedness Grants totaling more than $37 million for seven federal programs.
  These grants are focused on assisting state and local government and the private sector in strengthening preparedness for acts of terrorism, major disasters and other emergencies.
 

“Maryland’s proximity to the our nation’s capital, along with important national security facilities and the Port of Baltimore, make it vital that we are prepared and have the emergency capabilities to respond to any act or terrorism or a natural disaster,” said
Senator Cardin, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Terrorism Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee.
  “These grants are focused on communications, transportation and infrastructure security and are targeted to ensure we have the resources we need to respond to any threat.”


“We are a high-risk and high-threat nation, and today’s threats were unthinkable years ago.  Our Homeland Security grant programs play an integral role in keeping us safe.  Today’s announcement acknowledges what we have always known –

Maryland

is a critical partner in protecting the country from potential attacks,” said
Senator Mikulski, a member of Homeland Appropriations Subcommittee.
  “Our economy depends on moving goods and people via our ports and mass transit systems, and our security demands that they are safe and protected from attacks.  I will continue to fight to safeguard these much-needed federal investments in hometown security.” 



 


The FY 2010 grants announced today for

Maryland

include:



 




·
        


Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) – $18.5
million to WMATA in the Greater National Capital Region to protect critical transit infrastructure from terrorism, and
$10.6 million to the Maryland Transit Administration for the


Baltimore

region.



 




·
        


Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP)
– $43,000 to assist two Prince George’s County operators of fixed-route intercity and charter bus services to support security plans, facility security upgrades and vehicle and driver protection.



 




·
        


Port Security Grant Program (PSGP)
– $3.6 million to protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism; enhance maritime domain awareness and risk management capabilities to protect against improvised explosive devices and other non-conventional weapons; conduct training and exercises; and support implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program.



 




·
        


Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP)
– $800,000 to increase preparedness capabilities of jurisdictions responsible for safeguarding critical infrastructure sites and key resource assets, such as chemical facilities and nuclear power plants.



 




·
        


Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) Grant Program- $1.8 million to support the construction or renovation of Emergency Operations Centers to improve state, local or tribal emergency management and preparedness capabilities to ensure continuity of operations during disasters.



 




·
        


Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP) – $1 million to assist governments in carrying out initiatives identified in Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans and improve interoperable emergency communications used to respond to natural disasters and acts of terrorism.
 



 




·
        


Driver’s License Security Grant Program (DLSGP) – $800,000 to help states and territories improve security of state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards in order to reduce fraud, enhance the reliability and accuracy of personal identification documents and prevent terrorism.




 


Further information on preparedness grant programs is available at


www.dhs.gov


and


www.fema.gov/grants


.

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