Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) successfully advocated for legislation in the fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Act that would restore eligibility for the city of San Antonio for the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), which aids cities in planning for and responding to acts of terrorism. Without the amendment, the legislation would have limited the eligibility to only 10 cities, not including the city of San Antonio. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday by a vote of 231 to 188.

While San Antonio previously received $6.2 million from the UASI program, in May, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that San Antonio, along with 31 other cities, would not receive UASI funding.

“San Antonio is a terrorist threat because it is home to four military installations, the second largest National Security Agency office in the country and is a major entry point in South Texas,” Congressman Cuellar. “I fought to ensure that San Antonio was once again eligible to receive this important funding, and I will continue to fight to give it the funding that it deserves.”

Congressman Cuellar also voted for an amendment that would have allocated an additional $337 million to the UASI program. That amendment failed by a vote of 154 to 266.

On May 24, 2011, Congressman Cuellar addressed a letter to Congressman Peter King, Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee that urged him to conduct a field hearing in San Antonio to examine the cuts to homeland security grant programs for fiscal years (FY) 2011 and 2012.

“While it’s obvious we need cuts to federal spending, critical programs that keep our communities safe should not be on the chopping block,” Congressman Cuellar said. “I am working with Chairman King and Ranking Member Bennie Thompson to ensure we address this issue.”

The Urban Area Security Initiative, or USAI, provides funding to address the unique planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas, and assists them preventing, protecting against, responding to, and recovering from acts of terrorism.  Per the 9/11 Act, states are required to ensure that at least 25 percent of UASI appropriated funds are dedicated towards law enforcement terrorism prevention activities.

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.