WASHINGTON- The United States Senate today approved an amendment cosponsored by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) that will enhance homeland security in Rhode Island by ensuring that the state sees an increase in funding in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill being debated in the Senate today. Reed joined Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) on an amendment to the State Homeland Security Program that would guarantee $13.7 million for Rhode Island and allow the state to apply for additional discretionary funds based on identified risks, threats and vulnerabilities. Reeds amendment ensures Rhode Islands funding is not cut in FY 2006 and has the potential for increased funding through additional discretionary grants. Currently in the bill, Rhode Island would only receive $10.8 million through the state grant program. Last year, the states final total was $14 million with no opportunity for additional discretionary funding. This is excellent news for Rhode Island which was facing a reduction in homeland security funding this morning. I am delighting I was able to work with both democrats and republicans in the Senate to find a way to ensure that homeland security funding is targets population, population density and risk, Reed stated. The amendment would combine the State Homeland Security Grant Program, the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, and the Urban Area Security Initiative into a single grant program. Guaranteed funds would be distributed through a formula that includes population and population density. Half of the additional risk based funds would go to the nations top 100 metropolitan regions, which includes Providence, on a competitive basis. Factors such as coastlines and urban centers are also considered.I am committed to ensuring that Rhode Island has the tools and resources needed to protect its transit systems, airports, waterways and urban centers and has the capabilities to respond to emergencies, threats and disasters, said Reed.