Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) announced today that Texas will receive $9 million in a Federal Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) for 2004. This money will be matched dollar for dollar by Texas emergency management resources resulting in a total grant of $18 million for local first responders in Texas.

"The grant money awarded to Texas today is an investment in the safety of every American's future. Local law enforcement and emergency personnel will be better trained and local and state governments will better equipped to keep our citizens safe.

"President Bush, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, and I agree that security is not just a dollar and cents issue. Keeping America safe from terrorism is an ongoing process that requires an unwavering commitment.

"Our nation’s first responders, our firefighters and police officers, put their lives on the line everyday to keep us safe. This grant shows our communities that this Administration and Congress are fully committed to providing these everyday heroes with every resource available to help them protect America," Brady stated.

The City of Houston ranks #7 nationally in urban areas that are considered a high threat/high risk for terrorist attack. The Texas Department of Public Safety will allocate the awarded funds based on local input and according to risk vulnerabilities that address the most urgent state and local needs in disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

The effectiveness of state and local responder organizations is critical to the success of all aspects of the Homeland Security mission, but especially to disaster response operations. Local emergency managers plan, train, exercise and provide the facilities needed to coordinate all emergency services in response to disasters of all kinds. They also assume the leading the role in mitigation program activities, those designed to reduce the vulnerability of communities to all-hazards.