McCaskill Announces More Than $14.6 Million Headed to Missouri for Counterterrorism Efforts

Funds will support state and local emergency preparedness across Missouri

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, the top-ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is awarding more than $14.6 million to communities throughout Missouri to help prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against acts of terrorism.

“These resources are important for making sure local organizations and law enforcement are well-equipped to keep Missourians safe from potential terrorist attacks,” McCaskill said. “I’m proud to support our brave first responders and other emergency personnel, and I’m going to keep fighting to make sure they have the resources they need to do their jobs.”

As the top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, McCaskill has fought to make sure there is adequate funding for these DHS grant programs, which provide crucial support to state and local counterterrorism preparedness efforts. Last year when the budget proposed nearly $450 million in cuts to these grant programs, McCaskill raised concerns with the Secretary of Homeland Security. Last July, she released a report documenting $583 million in funding cuts for a number of counterterrorism programs. At a committee hearing, McCaskill pressed leaders from DHS and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) about the proposed cuts to counterterrorism programs.

The state and local preparedness grants will be used by Missouri law enforcement agencies, emergency managers, nonprofit organizations, and economic development entities in every corner of the state to support emergency personnel, equipment purchases, and training and exercise programs. A recent study by the National Homeland Security Consortium found that two of the grant programs providing funds to Missouri—the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)—have facilitated a 124% increase in the number of advanced hazardous materials, incident management, and structure collapse/urban search and rescue teams across the country in the past 17 years.

McCaskill has served on both the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Armed Services Committee since joining the Senate in 2007, and has made protecting American families at home and abroad a top priority. McCaskill has supported all 12 of President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security nominees that the Senate has confirmed. Earlier this year, she urged Immigration and Customs Enforcement to ensure that all individuals going through immigration proceedings are screened against the terrorist watch list. She also helped lead the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in reauthorizing the Department of Homeland Security and laying out policy priorities for the Department, including a McCaskill-led provision on strengthening counterterrorism efforts. Last year, McCaskill toured the U.S.-Mexico border to learn more about what Customs and Border Protection needs to increase border security.

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