Department of Homeland Security Grants to State and Local Governments: FY2003 to FY2006

Publication Date: December 2006

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Social conditions

Type:

Abstract:

This report analyzes federal grants to state and local governments that are administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These grants, which are allocated primarily at the discretion of DHS, are intended to enhance homeland security.

This report summarizes seven DHS grant programs -- the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP), the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program (LETPP), the Emergency Management Performance Grant Program (EMPG), the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS), the Citizen Corps Program (CCP), and the Critical Infrastructure Protection Program (CIP -- funded only in FY2003). These seven DHS programs were chosen for analysis because the allocations were made to state and local governments, not to private individuals or entities. These seven programs accounted for $1.85 billion in FY2006.

The report also provides a state-by-state analysis of state and local spending on public safety more generally. The homeland security grants described in this report are likely included in the public safety categories of spending as reported by the states and tabulated by the U.S. Census Bureau. The federal grants identified in this report are a relatively small portion of overall public safety spending, ranging from 0.48% in Virginia to a maximum of 5.6% in North Dakota.