Access Control
& Security Systems

Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge has told leaders from the National League of Cities (NLC) that the White House supports prompt approval of $3.5 billion in homeland security funding targeted to local and state governments.

"Cities have been providing homeland security across the U.S. with virtually no federal assistance for 15 months now," said John DeStefano, president of the NLC and mayor of New Haven, Conn.

The NLC also expressed concern during the meeting that authorization of the $3.5 billion not come at the expense of other critical public safety programs such as Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Funds, and Bryne Grants.

Ridge and NLC leaders discussed a distribution strategy for the $3.5 billion to ensure that the money gets to cities and towns quickly and equitably.

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