WASHINGTON – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee and dean of the Massachusetts delegation, was joined by the entire Massachusetts House delegation in sending a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff fully supporting the Boston metro area’s $23 million proposal for urban area homeland security grant money.
Since June of 2003, the Boston metro area, which is considered a high-threat region, has received funds through the DHS Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) in order to further develop its ability to prevent, protect, respond to, and recover from catastrophic events. The Metro Boston Homeland Security Region is an approximately 95 square mile area covering Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, Brookline and Winthrop.
Rep. Markey said, "The Boston metro area is key to the economic vitality of Massachusetts and the entire New England region. But since September 11th, Boston is also a significant terrorist target, especially because our busy cargo port is home to the nation's only urban liquefied natural gas (LNG) importation terminal. My Massachusetts colleagues and I strongly urge Secretary Chertoff to provide the full amount of security funding that reflects the unique risks that we face in Massachusetts."
The full text of the delegation letter is available HERE.
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2008 |
CONTACT: Jessica Schafer, 202.225.2836 |
