March 14, 2008 -- Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Ranking Member Susan Collins R-Me., Friday hailed the restoration of critical first responder funding in the Department of Homeland Security Fiscal Year 2009 Budget and cheered Senate acceptance of their amendment to increase funding for FEMA operations and management by $141 million. The Senate and House both approved their FY09 Budget Resolutions late Thursday night.

The Senate Budget Resolution rejected the President’s proposed cuts to first responder and instead funds the primary grant program for states – the State Homeland Security Grant Program - at its current level of $950 million. That is the figure that HSGAC authorized it at in the Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007.

The Senate also rejected proposed cuts to other vital grant programs including grants to firefighters, for emergency management, and for port and transit security. All of these programs were restored to FY 08 funding levels, adjusted for inflation.

On the critical matter of interoperable communications, the Senate budget increases funding for the Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP) from $50 million this year to $200 million in FY 09.

The Lieberman-Collins FEMA amendment would add $141 million to fully fund the Administration’s requested increase to pay for modernizing the agency’s IT systems; strengthening and expanding key teams and other personnel that handle disaster operations, logistics and other vital capabilities; and converting certain temporary disaster support employees to permanent staff, which should help provide a more stable and professional workforce for this program.