BY THE NUMBERS/First responder funds
Several media reports in April, along with California Republican Rep. Christopher Cox, have questioned the distribution and use of the nation’s Department of Homeland Security first responder funds. Cox is proposing legislation that would require states and regions to coordinate plans before applying for aid and would award more money based on threat.
14 percent is the portion of $2.2 billion spent by states last year for emergency first responders
19 percent of the $882 million in first responder funds in 2003 and 2004 nationwide remains unspent
$0 is the amount of money spent by Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and Wyoming of 2004 grant awards
$4 billion is the amount appropriated for state and local assistance programs in 2005
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CNN and The Washington Post, April 2005.