In response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's decision to cut $83.1 million in grants to the New York City metropolitan area, U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4) issued the following statement:

"Once again, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has shortchanged the area most vulnerable to terrorist attack. This short-sightedness and irresponsibility cannot be tolerated.

The Department's feeble reasoning for cutting New York's funding was insulting and offensive. Despite the attacks on the World Trade Center in 1993 and 2001, the Department of Homeland Security actually stated our area has 'no' national monuments or icons.

" I strongly suggest Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff come to New York and visit places like the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and other landmarks he has apparently never heard of. Let him meet the millions of people who live, work and vacation in our area. Maybe then he'll finally understand that our area is more in need of homeland security funding than any other community in America.

"I'd also like to invite him to Long Island, to meet the volunteer firefighters from our villages who responded to the call on 9/11. Since that day, New York's first responders have been charged with enormous new responsibilities, but continue to operate at pre-9/11 funding levels. In fact our first responders are in need of more funding, not less.

"Since its inception, the Department of Homeland Security has consistently defied common sense and based anti-terrorism funding on factors other than risk. I have introduced legislation that would create a homeland security grants program that would ensure areas most in risk of an attack would get the funding they need to be prepared.

"On behalf of New Yorkers everywhere, I am committed to fighting these preposterous cuts to our homeland security. I will work with my fellow New Yorkers in Congress to reverse this decision and restore some common sense within the Department of Homeland Security."