Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy joined colleagues from the New York Congressional delegation in calling on Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to limit the number of cities eligible for federal funding under the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). Limiting eligible cities to those most at risk would increase funding allotments for areas like New York City and Long Island.

"We need to make sure homeland security funding gets to the places most at risk," McCarthy said. "I agree with the 9/11 Commission that New York has been severely under funded by the Department of Homeland Security and limiting the cities eligible for UASI funds to those most at risk will help our area get its fair share of funding."

Since the UASI program's inception, the pool of funding recipients has increased from seven to 80 cities, thus leaving less funding for cities with the highest risk of terrorist attack. Since the pool of cities was enlarged, New York City's UASI funding has dropped from $150 million in 2003 to $47 million in 2004.

McCarthy has also introduced the Domestic Preparedness Act of 2004, a bill that would ensure homeland security funding be distributed according to an area's pre-determined risk factor.

"Like all Long Island residents, I am shocked and distressed by the recent incidents of gang violence plaguing certain Nassau County communities in recent weeks. More alarming still is the ever-increasing frequency of these incidents.

"The gang crisis raging on our streets and in our schools must be addressed as quickly as possible. I have submitted requests to the House Appropriations Committee for the funding of several gang prevention programs in Nassau County. These programs are partnerships involving local government, police departments, schools, churches and other community organizations to reach kids before street gang recruiters do.

"These programs will educate young kids about the dangers and destructive nature of gang life. Gang members lure young people with empty promises of riches and power, but young people succumbing to gang life will most likely end up in prison or meet a violent, premature end.

"I will also work with my colleagues in Congress to secure more funding for the Department of Justice's Community Policing Initiative, which provides funding for local police departments to place officers in schools. These officers will keep gang members and recruiters out of our schools and help protect innocent students and teachers from the indiscriminate reach of gang violence.

"Helping the kids and schools currently caught in the dangerous web of gang violence and keeping these criminal organizations from expanding into new communities will be a top priority of mine in the coming months. We must do all we can to protect our kids from this epidemic of violence."