ORLANDO, Fla. – U.S. Rep. Val Demings (D-Orlando) expressed more frustration Saturday that the Department of Homeland Security decided to not award Orlando any federal money from the Urban Area Security Initiative.
"That funding for our community or law enforcement is critical," she said.
Demings said the anti-terrorism money is needed in Orlando and pointed to its millions of visitors, who could become potential targets for terrorists, as well as the 49 people killed and 53 others injured last year at the Pulse Nightclub shooting.
Only the top 33 cities ranked as hot spots get funding. The City Beautiful dropped down the list to 38th.
"I was really shocked several years ago when Orlando was taken off the list," she said.
Orlando Chief John Mina and Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings went to Washington, D.C. a few weeks after the June 12, 2016, shooting at Pulse nightclub to ask that Congress release the factors behind the decision of which communities will receive funding.
"I believe we should always be proactive when it comes to our safety and security," Demings said, adding she will work with Congress to increase funding for the program in 2018 and change the allocation formula to include cities like Orlando.