Press Releases

Washington, DC – U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore is working to keep the Milwaukee area eligible for crucial funding that trains first responders to prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
 
The bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) originally included a provision to limit funding under the Urban Area Security Initiative to our nation’s ten cities most at risk of a terrorist attack.  Moore was one of 13 Representatives who co-wrote an amendment to remove that language and allow urban areas like Milwaukee to once again qualify for this funding if DHS determines the area is at risk. 

Moore said, “If we enact an arbitrary restriction like this one, we might as well fax al Qaeda a list of the areas that will lose federal support.”

The amendment passed by a vote of 273 to 150.  The overall bill passed the House and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

In a speech on the House Floor last night, Moore mentioned reports that intelligence found in Osama bin Laden’s compound indicated he instructed his followers to look at smaller U.S. cities for potential attacks.  Her full speech can be viewed here.

This bill comes on the heels of an announcement that DHS would no longer provide funding for Milwaukee and dozens of our nation’s cities due to mid-year budget cuts.  Moore wrote to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and asked her to reconsider this decision.   
 
In her letter, she wrote:  “Urban regions like Milwaukee…. should not be cut out of this important program when the Department has continued to assess a risk for these areas over the years, and when the threat continues to exist for an attack.”  Her full letter can be read here