NJOHSP Director Maples testifies before Congress about impact of homeland security grants on state, local preparedness

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Director Jared M. Maples of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) discussed the impact of US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant programs on the ability of New Jersey communities to combat threats and prepare for emergencies when he testified before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery on April 28.

The hearing, “State and Local Perspectives on DHS Preparedness Grant Programs,” examined the critical role federal grants play in security and resiliency planning, especially as new tactics and events continue to alter the threat landscape in both the physical and cyber realms.

“For the past 20 years, the homeland security paradigm has evolved through proactive strategy and reactive operations,” said Jared M. Maples, Director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. “The dollars that we receive from federal grant programs go a long way for both strategic and tactical initiatives and how we operate.”

As New Jersey’s State Administrative Agency (SAA), NJOHSP administers homeland security grant funds provided by DHS and is responsible for ensuring compliance with these federal grant programs designed to make the State a safer place to live, visit, work, and worship.

NJOHSP has administered over $1.3 billion in federal and State grants since 2006 and continues to collaborate with federal, State, and local law enforcement partners to protect the people and institutions of New Jersey.

David Ige, Governor of Hawaii; Orlando Rolón, Chief of Police for the City of Orlando; and Robert Altman, Battalion Chief of Ocala Fire Rescue in Florida, also testified before the Subcommittee.

A video of the full testimony is available online.

For more information on grant opportunities offered through NJOHSP, visit its Grants webpage.