Rowland Supports First-Responder Funding Changes

by Kevin Joy

WASHINGTON - Gov. John G. Rowland on Tuesday criticized the way the Bush administration has doled out homeland security money and threw his support behind legislation that would funnel more money to parts of the country that are likelier terrorism targets.

Rowland told the House Select Homeland Security Committee that the money for first responders was not reaching states quickly enough, the application process was complicated and the distribution of money was inconsistent among the states. He said he supported a bill that would consolidate a number of grants for first responders-firefighters, police officers and paramedics-and apply new criteria for awarding them.

"We're past the sense of urgency, and now we should be talking about standards," said Rowland, a member of an advisory council to the president on homeland security. "It's time to avoid an entitlement program and make states prove what they need based on logical thoughts."

In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, each state received about $15 million for first responders plus an additional amount based on population. States were required to give at least 80 percent of the money to local governments.

Under a bill introduced this month by Christopher Cox, R-Calif., federal money would be distributed according to a location's risk of attack. In addition, regions, not just individual states, would be eligible to apply for grants.

Rowland said the bill would make it more likely that areas bordering Connecticut, including New York City and Long Island Sound, would receive a greater share of the funds. Some states and rural areas would receive less money, while such high-risk regions as Washington and Los Angeles would get more.

Rowland said the federal government should allocate homeland security grants to state governments, not directly to individual towns or regions. The money then would be distributed as necessary to Connecticut's 169 communities based on need, he said.

"Governors clearly understand the importance of regional cooperation and mutual aid," he said. "Comprehensive plans cannot be created if funding goes to municipalities without the involvement of a state."

To ensure that first responder grants reach the local level, the proposed bill would give states only 45 days to pass the money on to municipalities.

Not all local officials agree that the federal money should go first to the states..

Richard Brown, New London's city engineer, said in an interview the city has received "very little" in first responder grants, but he didn't have a dollar figure. One of the biggest grants, $130,000, went to the New London Fire Department for a decontamination trailer and other equipment. In the event of a chemical attack, it can treat 100 people an hour, said Fire Chief Ron Samul.

New London has the only decontamination trailer in the eastern half of Connecticut and shares it with the entire region, Samul said. He said the city still needs blankets and heated tents for victims of a chemical attack. And most of his employees have not received official preparation for handling a radiological or biological attack, Samul said in an interview.

"I feel pretty confident that we have good training based on our generic emergency plan" used in the event of a blizzard, hurricane or flood, Samul said. "But we're the first ones to be called upon, no matter what happens."

Even though New London lacks a major airport, Brown said, the city should get a significant amount of first-responder money because of its close proximity to the Millstone Power Station, a nuclear power plant, as well as to Interstate 95, the Goldstar Bridge, Amtrak rails and the Electric Boat submarine shipyard.

"We've always known that New London was a high threat area," Brown said. "There's a definite need for more funding and a greater sharing of information among regions. And everyone's safety rests on [first responders'] ability to do their job."