On October 18, President Bush signed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act for the Federal Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2005. About $4 billion of the $33.1 billion appropriated is allocated to first responders. That is about the same level of funding made available for first responders in the previous fiscal year. Total DHS appropriations were increased by $2.8 billion, or about nine percent.

However, level funding at the national level does not mean level funding for New Jersey.
Due to changes in the allocation formula, New Jersey will receive 30% less than last year. We were cut from $87.4 million to $60.8 million.

On learning of the cuts on December 3, Acting Governor Codey issues a press release, terming the decrease "… unconscionable - a slap in the face to New Jersey and all of our residents." The Acting Governor also contacted Homeland Security Secretary-Designate Bernard B. Kerik to protest an allocation that gives Wyoming $29.45, per capita, and North Dakota $20.80, per capita, while shrinking New Jersey's per capita level to about $4.00. Mr. Kerik has agreed to meet with the Acting Governor to discuss these disparities.

We cannot fault our Congressional delegation. They have 13 votes, out of 435, in the House, and two, out of a hundred, in the Senate. But we suggest you contact your Federal Representative and our U.S. Senators to urge them to redouble their efforts to impress on their colleagues the losses that our State suffered on September 11, and the importance of providing adequate funding to protect our military, energy and pharmaceutical facilities, our transportation infrastructure, which is vital to the national economy, and, most importantly, our 8.4 million residents.

If you would also like to contact President Bush and the Legislative Leadership in Washington, please contact Suzanne DeLany at 609-695-3481, ext. 14. For more information, contact Jon Moran at 609-695-3481, ext. 21.