NEW YORK, NY May 10, 2007 —On the same day that New York Senator Charles Schumer called for scuttling the Department of Homeland Security other members of Congress from the region are applauding an increase in the grants awarded locally by the Department of Homeland Security. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

Both House and Senate members from New York and New Jersey say today's awards are a victory for a risk based approach. In the latest round of Department of Homeland Security funding the region will get millions more than last year to protect mass transit, port facilities and chemical plants.

The New York City metro region saw it's Federal security aid for its rail networks jump from 47 million last year to 61 million dollars. In this latest round The Department of Homeland Security appeared to emphasize reducing vulnerabilities at the nations seaport and mass transit networks. As a result passenger rail carrier Amtrak, and bus services like Greyhound as well as local carriers got Federal aid along with ferry operators. For WNYC I am Bob Hennelly