WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to improve homeland security, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the House-Senate Conference Committee approved the fiscal year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. This legislation provides critical funding to help protect the American people from terrorist threats and respond to potential disasters. It makes critical investments in the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Coast Guard; includes funding for competitive grants for local fire departments; and grants to help states train and equip local first responders.

The bill also includes $980,000 in federal funding for the Providence Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which will allow the Providence Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), which operates the EOC, to expand its facility. These upgrades will provide needed space at the Providence EOC to ensure round-the-clock responsiveness and accommodate more first responders. In undertaking this work, approximately 20 construction jobs will be created.

"This legislation will help local law enforcement agencies across the country beef up and modernize their security systems. I was pleased to include critical funding for the Providence Emergency Operations Center in this bill. This funding will help protect the public and create about 20 construction jobs in Providence," noted Reed. "This critical expansion will enable Rhode Island's emergency responders to protect the public and coordinate their efforts to prevent or respond to natural disasters and other emergencies. I was pleased to work with Representative Langevin to secure this federal funding."

In 2004, the City of Providence designated a site within the city to serve as the headquarters for the Providence EMA, and has worked since then to make improvements to the facility so it can serve as a vital command center during a natural disaster or an attack. Providence EMA completed the first phase of work on the facility this year, but must expand its existing building in order to meet shortfalls that were identified in a 2007 Federal Emergency Management Agency Technical Assistance Team review. These shortfalls included inadequate space within the existing facility for administrative and emergency operations and a lack of adequate force protection.

Beyond serving the state's largest city, Providence EMA plays a leading role in managing the Greater Providence Metropolitan Medical Response System and Providence Urban Area Security Initiative regions, which include Providence and 8 surrounding communities representing 60% of the state's population. Neighboring communities that will coordinate their operations with the EOC include: East Providence, Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, North Providence, Johnston, Cranston, Warwick, and West Warwick.

"The Providence Emergency Operations Center will be a resource for first responders in Providence and in neighboring communities helping them address emergencies that cross local boundaries and providing needed incident support and coordination," concluded Reed.

Now that it has been approved by the Conference Committee, the Homeland Security bill must be passed by both the full House and Senate before it is sent to President Obama for his signature.