PATERSON, NJ – On February 14, 2020 U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ9) raised objections to the Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) announcement that New Jeresey would be eligible for less funding in FY2020 for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) than it did in 2019. The Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Program assists high-threat, high-density Urban Areas in efforts to build and sustain the capabilities necessary to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism.

The State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) is a core assistance program that provides funds to build capabilities at the State, local, tribal, and territorial levels, to enhance our national resilience to absorb disruptions and rapidly recover from incidents both natural and manmade as well as to implement the goals and objectives included in State homeland security strategies and initiatives in their State Preparedness Report (SPR). New Jersey will be awarded less than $20.05 million it received in FY2019 for UASI and less than $7,993,000 it received for SHSP FY2019.

Ahmet Akdag, Executive Director of Common Security Corp., issued the following statement:

“It makes little sense for FEMA’s new guidelines to cut New Jersey’s funding for 2020 when we are still raw from a terrorist attack in Jersey City less than two months ago which left six people dead, including a police officer, as well as the overall rise in domestic extremism over the years that continues to threaten the safety of our communities.”

“I support Congressman Pascrell’s efforts in advocating for increased federal efforts to combat terrorism and his dedicated focus on helping prepare communities to deal with threats. In a state as urbanized, dense, and diverse as New Jersey, it’s vital that we have access to the security grant funding necessary to keep our communities safe while also making sure organizations are aware of thes grants and applying to them.”