Discussion · House of Representatives
Andrew R. Garbarino Republican
“I support this bill. Cities can lose federal anti-terrorism grants when risk levels change each year. This bill requires regular reports to Congress on whether those cities can still protect themselves after losing that money.”
“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8874, the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Reporting Act of 2026. This legislation requires DHS to provide a report to Congress every 3 years on the Homeland Security capabilities of urban areas that have previously received funding through the Urban Area Security Initiative, or UASI. The FEMA Grant Programs Directorate provides preparedness funding to assist States, localities, urban areas, and Tribal and territorial governments and strengthen the Nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies. Every year, FEMA determines eligible high-risk urban areas for UASI funding through analysis of relative risk of terrorism experienced by urban areas in the United States. As relative terrorism risk undertaken by urban area jurisdictions changes every year, this can sometimes lead to urban areas that were once eligible for UASI funding in one year no longer being eligible in future years. This legislation will provide consistent information to Congress on the ability of urban areas at risk of terrorism threats to maintain their Homeland Security capabilities. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.”
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8874, the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Reporting Act of 2026. This legislation requires DHS to provide a report to Congress every 3 years on the Homeland Security capabilities of urban areas that have previously received funding through the Urban Area Security Initiative, or UASI. The FEMA Grant Programs Directorate provides preparedness funding to assist States, localities, urban areas, and Tribal and territorial governments and strengthen the Nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies. Every year, FEMA determines eligible high-risk urban areas for UASI funding through analysis of relative risk of terrorism experienced by urban areas in the United States. As relative terrorism risk undertaken by urban area jurisdictions changes every year, this can sometimes lead to urban areas that were once eligible for UASI funding in one year no longer being eligible in future years. This legislation will provide consistent information to Congress on the ability of urban areas at risk of terrorism threats to maintain their Homeland Security capabilities. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.