A new risk-formula distribution for federal homeland security grants could result in more money for New Jersey’s critical infrastructure if legislation considered by the U.S. House of Representatives today becomes law, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) said. 

    “New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation, with at least a dozen sites placed on the FBI’s ‘National Critical Infrastructure’ list. The risk-formula established by this bill will ensure that the Department of Homeland Security thoroughly and accurately evaluates the risks that New Jersey and all high risk areas face,” Smith said during consideration of the “Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007” (H.R. 1) on the floor of the House of Representatives.

    The changes to the funding formula for homeland security grants is a key provision of the “Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007,” which aims to enact many of the remaining recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. Smith—who has been pushing for a risk-based formula for years—noted that this reform is supported by members of the New Jersey delegation, a majority of the House of Representatives and the Bush Administration. 

    Smith—whose Congressional District is home to more than 50 families who lost relatives in the 9/11 attacks—was the lead Republican sponsor of legislation to establish an independent investigative panel in the 107^th Congress.

    “I advocated early and consistently for a Commission to chronicle the lessons learned from the 9/11 tragedy and develop a well-informed, thoughtful strategy to reduce the risk of future terrorist attacks. Our obligation to the American people did not end there as we still must carry-out the Commission’s recommendations. This bill puts us closer to meeting that responsibility than ever before,” said Smith.

    Since the creation of the Commission, Smith has worked in a bipartisan way to get the Commission’s recommendations implemented. In 2004, Smith joined a majority of his colleagues to pass the “National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004,” which led to the enactment of many of the commission's recommendations, including an overhaul of U.S. intelligence institutions, visa reform and improvements to airport and aviation security. 

    “Although prior legislation implemented numerous important measures that have bolstered our national security—and indeed much has been done—we must always be diligent in implementing new means for responding to developing threats. Our enemies are constantly searching for our vulnerabilities, and our ability to remain ahead of them is critical to our very survival. The measures in this bill will further bolster our national security,” said Smith. 

    Smith also said the provisions of the bill that make the Privacy and Civil Liberties Board an independent agency and give it subpoena power are important reforms.

    “These provisions will ensure that the government is protecting the privacy of American citizens while still doing everything in its power to protect our nation from a terrorist attack,” said Smith. 

    The “Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007” includes other important provisions including a measure to grant the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners at airports the right to join unions and provide them with whistle-blower protections; provisions that recognize and address the often overlooked correlation between terrorism and human trafficking; and improvements to our efforts to combat nuclear proliferation.