"This funding proposal

recognizes that homeland security starts close to home," Rep. Scott

said.

"The safety of our families

and our communities depends on a strong military, but that is only the

beginning. Protecting our nation and our loved ones means ensuring that

the food they eat and the water they drink cannot be tampered with. It

means plugging the holes that allow terror to slip through our harbors,

our airports and our borders. And it means giving our police, firefighters

and emergency personnel the resources they need to do their jobs."

The proposal contained:

$150 million for firefighters

assistance grants,

$200 million for training police,

fire and EMS personnel and purchasing protective gear.

$150 million for state and

local bio-chemical response.

$132 million to protect dams,

bridges and other critical infrastructure.

$250 million for port security.

$87 million to protect domestic

nuclear plants and radioactive materials.

The money would have been added

to the supplemental appropriations bill, which will provide additional

funds for the conflict in Iraq. Congressman Scott strongly supports the

wartime supplemental spending bill.

"Our troops in Iraq and

those serving here at home and around the world deserve every resource

we can give them to protect and defend our nation and all Americans, but

we must also provide the needed resources to the other brave men and women

on the frontlines - our police officers, firefighters and other emergency

personnel," Rep. Scott said.

"The President, Congress

and state and local officials must work together to provide the much-needed

funds to our troops and first responders so they can do their jobs."

According to a recently released

report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, cities across the country are

now being forced to pay more than $21.4 million per week in additional

security costs or close to $2 billion over the next six months during

the increased security alert status brought on by the war in Iraq.