(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Sen. Murray (D-Wash.) today announced that the City of
Seattle will receive $11.28 million to help enhance the local government’s ability to prepare
for and respond to terrorist threats.
These funds were dispersed under the Urban Area Security Initiative of the Department of
Homeland Security’s Office of Domestic Preparedness. As a key member of the Senate
Appropriations Committee, Murray supported these funds in the fiscal year 2003 Omnibus
Spending bill, which passed the Senate in January.
“This money is great news for the residents of Seattle,” Senator Murray said. “With local
budgets being squeezed, our police and firefighters deserve every available resource to
help protect the safety of Seattle residents. I am proud to have supported these federal
funds to help keep our families and communities safe.”
Seven cities across the U.S. were selected to receive Urban Area Security Initiative funds.
Seattle, New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and
Houston were chosen based on factors like population, critical infrastructure and
threat/vulnerability assessment. Seattle previously received Office of Domestic
Preparedness funds in the form of grants for first responders.
Senator Murray has been the state’s most effective leader in securing federal resources for
homeland security. In the last two years, Murray has secured 5 new Coast Guard vessels
and crews to beef up patrols in the Puget Sound.
Murray is also responsible for bringing the first Coast Guard anti-terror “SWAT Team” to
Seattle to provide rapid interdiction of maritime threats. Murray developed and secured
nearly $60 million in funding for “Operation Safe Commerce,” a pilot project at the Ports
of Seattle and Tacoma and two other ports, to improve container security. She has also
been a long-time advocate for increasing resources to the Northern Border and helped
provide funding to significantly increase the numbers of INS and Customs agents on the
Northern Border.
In March, Murray was named to the new Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Senate
Appropriations Committee, putting her in a key position to deliver additional resources to
protect Washington State.
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