---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 601"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "601"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/601"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter XV — Homeland Security Grants"
---

# §601. Definitions


In this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply:

- (1) **Administrator—** The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Federal [Emergency Management](/usc/6/701.md?p=7) [Agency](/usc/6/671.md?p=1).
- (2) **Appropriate committees of Congress—** The term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—
  - (A) the Committee on [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
  - (B) those committees of the House of Representatives that the Speaker of the House of Representatives determines appropriate.
- (3) **Critical infrastructure sectors—** The term “critical infrastructure sectors” means the following sectors, in both urban and rural areas:
  - (A) Agriculture and food.
  - (B) Banking and finance.
  - (C) Chemical industries.
  - (D) Commercial facilities.
  - (E) Commercial nuclear reactors, materials, and waste.
  - (F) Dams.
  - (G) The defense industrial base.
  - (H) [Emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) services.
  - (I) Energy.
  - (J) Government facilities.
  - (K) Information technology.
  - (L) National monuments and icons.
  - (M) Postal and shipping.
  - (N) Public health and health care.
  - (O) Telecommunications.
  - (P) Transportation systems.
  - (Q) Water.
- (4) **Directly eligible tribe—** The term “directly eligible tribe” means—
  - (A) any [Indian tribe](#7)—
    - (i) that is located in the continental [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A);
    - (ii) that operates a law enforcement or [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) response [agency](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) with the capacity to respond to calls for law enforcement or [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) services;
    - (iii)
      - (I) that is located on or near an international border or a coastline bordering an ocean (including the Gulf of Mexico) or international waters;
      - (II) that is located within 10 miles of a system or asset included on the prioritized [critical infrastructure](/usc/6/101.md?p=4) list established under [section 664(a)(2) of this title](/usc/6/664.md?p=a-2) or has such a system or asset within its territory;
      - (III) that is located within or contiguous to 1 of the 50 most populous [metropolitan statistical areas](#8) in the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A); or
      - (IV) the jurisdiction of which includes not less than 1,000 square miles of Indian country, as that term is defined in [section 1151 of title 18](/usc/18/1151.md); and
    - (iv) that certifies to the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) that a [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) has not provided [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) under section [604](/usc/6/604.md) or [605](/usc/6/605.md) of this title to the [Indian tribe](#7) or consortium of [Indian tribes](#7) for the purpose for which direct funding is sought; and
  - (B) a consortium of [Indian tribes](#7), if each tribe satisfies the requirements of [subparagraph (A)](#4-A).
- (5) **Eligible metropolitan area—** The term “eligible metropolitan area” means any of the 100 most populous [metropolitan statistical areas](#8) in the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A).
- (6) **High-risk urban area—** The term “high-risk urban area” means a high-risk urban area designated under [section 604(b)(3)(A) of this title](/usc/6/604.md?p=b-3-A).
- (7) **Indian tribe—** The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given that term in [section 5304(e) of title 25](/usc/25/5304.md?p=e).
- (8) **Metropolitan statistical area—** The term “metropolitan statistical area” means a metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget.
- (9) **National Special Security Event—** The term “National Special Security Event” means a designated event that, by virtue of its political, economic, social, or religious significance, may be the target of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18) or other criminal activity.
- (10) **Population—** The term “population” means population according to the most recent [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) census population estimates available at the start of the relevant fiscal year.
- (11) **Population density—** The term “population density” means [population](#10) divided by land area in square miles.
- (12) **Qualified intelligence analyst—** The term “qualified intelligence analyst” means an intelligence analyst (as that term is defined in [section 124h(j) of this title](/usc/6/124h.md?p=j)), including law enforcement [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15)—
  - (A) who has successfully completed training to ensure baseline proficiency in intelligence analysis and production, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16), which may include training using a curriculum developed under [section 124f of this title](/usc/6/124f.md); or
  - (B) whose experience ensures baseline proficiency in intelligence analysis and production equivalent to the training required under [subparagraph (A)](#12-A), as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16).
- (13) **Target capabilities—** The term “target capabilities” means the target capabilities for Federal, [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), local, and [tribal government](#14) preparedness for which guidelines are required to be established under [section 746(a) of this title](/usc/6/746.md?p=a).
- (14) **Tribal government—** The term “tribal government” means the government of an [Indian tribe](#7).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XX, § 2001, as added Pub. L. 110–53, title I, § 101, Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 271; amended Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(7)(A), Nov. 16, 2018, 132 Stat. 4180.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Par. (4)(A)(iii)(II). Pub. L. 115–278 substituted “section 664(a)(2) of this title” for “section 124l(a)(2) of this title”.