Congressman Cleaver Announces Final Funding Awards to Fight Terrorism and Assist in Emergency Preparedness In Kansas City

Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released final grant allocations for critical state and local preparedness programs. The Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area was awarded over $1.4 million. The State of Missouri as a whole was awarded $15 million.

"I am pleased to announce that our community will receive over $1.4 million in preparedness funds," said Congressman Cleaver. "From Orrick to Joplin, these dollars make a difference in preparing for and defending against terrorist attacks and natural disasters. Our law enforcement officers and first responders are doing all they can to prepare, and we must do all we can to give them the tools, training, and techniques they need to do their jobs. And make no mistake, I will continue to work to make sure we get what we need to help, not hamstring, our police officers, firefighters, first responders, and all others dedicating themselves to protecting our community."

The grants allocated today fund a range of preparedness activities, including planning, organization, equipment purchase, training, exercises, and management and administration. Congressman Cleaver has fought for UASI funds for Missouri's Fifth District year after year. After years of receiving UASI funds, in 2011 and again in 2013, Kansas City received no funds. In August of 2013, Congressman Cleaver reached out to then-Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, to again plead Kansas City's case. In March of this year, FEMA announced which cities would receive preparedness grants, and Kansas City, Missouri was included as a recipient. A summary of the grants our area and state will receive follows below.

• Missouri will receive $3,978,000 in State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) funds. This program provides $401,346,000 to support the implementation of State homeland security strategies to address identified planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events.
• The Kansas City Area will receive $1,000,000 in Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) funds. UASI provides $587,000,000 to address the unique planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density Urban Areas, and assists them in building an enhanced and sustainable capacity to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism.
• The Kansas City Area will receive $282,457 in Urban Areas Security Initiative Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funds. This program provides $13,000,000 in funding support for target hardening and other physical security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attack and located within one of the specific UASI-eligible Urban Areas.
• Missouri will receive $6,590,063 in Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) funds. The EMPG program provides $350,100,000 to assist State, local, and tribal governments in preparing for all hazards.
• The Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City will receive $49,300 in Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) funds. This program provides $100,000,000 or transportation infrastructure security activities to implement Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans and facility security plans among port authorities, facility operators, and State and local government agencies required to provide port security services.
• The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) will receive $75,000 in Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) funds. This program provides $90,000,000 to the Nation's High-Threat Urban Areas for enhancement of security measures at critical transit infrastructure including bus, ferry, and rail systems.

Grant guidance for each program will be available at www.grants.gov.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and also serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus.