H.R. 5615 would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to submit a plan to the Congress to ensure that federal assistance is available to certain urban jurisdictions under the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). UASI provides grants to state and local law enforcement agencies in urban areas that are at high-risk for acts of terrorism to cover the costs of planning, equipment, and training. Specifically, the act would require that grants be made available under the program for at least three consecutive years to jurisdictions that did not receive UASI funding in the current fiscal year.
In developing the plan, FEMA would be required to survey urban jurisdictions to confirm the need for federal assistance. Based on the cost of similar plans, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 5615 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2022-2026 period; any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
