---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 604"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "604"
heading: "Urban Area Security Initiative"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/604"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter XV — Homeland Security Grants"
  - "Part A — Grants to States and High-Risk Urban Areas"
---

# §604. Urban Area Security Initiative

- (a) **Establishment—** There is established an Urban Area Security Initiative to provide grants to assist [high-risk urban areas](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) in preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18).
- (b) **Assessment and designation of high-risk urban areas—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) shall designate [high-risk urban areas](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) to receive grants under this section based on procedures under this subsection.
  - (2) **Initial assessment—**
    - (A) **In general—** For each fiscal year, the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) shall conduct an initial assessment of the relative threat, vulnerability, and consequences from acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18) faced by each [eligible metropolitan area](/usc/6/601.md?p=5), including consideration of—
      - (i) the factors set forth in subparagraphs (A) through (H) and (K) of [section 608(a)(1) of this title](/usc/6/608.md?p=a-1); and
      - (ii) information and materials submitted under [subparagraph (B)](#b-2-B).
    - (B) **Submission of information by eligible metropolitan areas—** Prior to conducting each initial assessment under [subparagraph (A)](#b-2-A), the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) shall provide each [eligible metropolitan area](/usc/6/601.md?p=5) with, and shall notify each [eligible metropolitan area](/usc/6/601.md?p=5) of, the opportunity to—
      - (i) submit information that the [eligible metropolitan area](/usc/6/601.md?p=5) believes to be relevant to the determination of the threat, vulnerability, and consequences it faces from acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18); and
      - (ii) review the risk assessment conducted by the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of that [eligible metropolitan area](/usc/6/601.md?p=5), including the bases for the assessment by the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of the threat, vulnerability, and consequences from acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18) faced by that [eligible metropolitan area](/usc/6/601.md?p=5), and remedy erroneous or incomplete information.
  - (3) **Designation of high-risk urban areas—**
    - (A) **Designation—**
      - (i) **In general—** For each fiscal year, after conducting the initial assessment under [paragraph (2)](#b-2), and based on that assessment, the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) shall designate [high-risk urban areas](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) that may submit applications for grants under this section.
      - (ii) **Additional areas—** Notwithstanding [paragraph (2)](#b-2), the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) may—
        - (I) in any case where an [eligible metropolitan area](/usc/6/601.md?p=5) consists of more than 1 metropolitan division (as that term is defined by the Office of Management and Budget) designate more than 1 [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) within a single [eligible metropolitan area](/usc/6/601.md?p=5); and
        - (II) designate an area that is not an [eligible metropolitan area](/usc/6/601.md?p=5) as a [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) based on the assessment by the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) of the relative threat, vulnerability, and consequences from acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18) faced by the area.
      - (iii) **Rule of construction—** Nothing in this subsection may be construed to require the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) to—
        - (I) designate all [eligible metropolitan areas](/usc/6/601.md?p=5) that submit information to the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) under [paragraph (2)(B)(i)](#b-2-B-i) as [high-risk urban areas](/usc/6/601.md?p=6); or
        - (II) designate all areas within an [eligible metropolitan area](/usc/6/601.md?p=5) as part of the [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6).
    - (B) **Jurisdictions included in high-risk urban areas—**
      - (i) **In general—** In designating [high-risk urban areas](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) under [subparagraph (A)](#b-3-A), the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) shall determine which jurisdictions, at a minimum, shall be included in each [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6).
      - (ii) **Additional jurisdictions—** A [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) designated by the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) may, in consultation with the [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) or [States](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) in which such [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) is located, add additional jurisdictions to the [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6).
- (c) **Application—**
  - (1) **In general—** An area designated as a [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) under [subsection (b)](#b) may apply for a grant under this section.
  - (2) **Minimum contents of application—** In an application for a grant under this section, a [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) shall submit—
    - (A) a plan describing the proposed division of responsibilities and distribution of funding among the local and [tribal governments](/usc/6/601.md?p=14) in the [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6);
    - (B) the name of an individual to serve as a [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) liaison with the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) and among the various jurisdictions in the [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6); and
    - (C) such information in support of the application as the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) may reasonably require.
  - (3) **Annual applications—** Applicants for grants under this section shall apply or reapply on an annual basis.
  - (4) **State review and transmission—**
    - (A) **In general—** To ensure consistency with [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) [homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) security plans, a [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) applying for a grant under this section shall submit its application to each [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) within which any part of that [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) is located for review before submission of such application to the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5).
    - (B) **Deadline—** Not later than 30 days after receiving an application from a [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) under [subparagraph (A)](#c-4-A), a [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) shall transmit the application to the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5).
    - (C) **Opportunity for State comment—** If the Governor of a [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) determines that an application of a [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) is inconsistent with the [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) [homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) security plan of that [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), or otherwise does not support the application, the Governor shall—
      - (i) notify the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1), in writing, of that fact; and
      - (ii) provide an explanation of the reason for not supporting the application at the time of transmission of the application.
  - (5) **Opportunity to amend—** In considering applications for grants under this section, the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) shall provide applicants with a reasonable opportunity to correct defects in the application, if any, before making final awards.
- (d) **Distribution of awards—**
  - (1) **In general—** If the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) approves the application of a [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) for a grant under this section, the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) shall distribute the grant [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) to the [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) or [States](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) in which that [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) is located.
  - (2) **State distribution of funds—**
    - (A) **In general—** Not later than 45 days after the date that a [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) receives grant [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) under [paragraph (1)](#d-1), that [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) shall provide the [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) awarded that grant not less than 80 percent of the grant [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5). Any [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) retained by a [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) shall be expended on items, services, or activities that benefit the [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6).
    - (B) **Funds retained—** A [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) shall provide each relevant [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) with an accounting of the items, services, or activities on which any [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) retained by the [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) under [subparagraph (A)](#d-2-A) were expended.
  - (3) **Interstate urban areas—** If parts of a [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) awarded a grant under this section are located in 2 or more [States](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) shall distribute to each such [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17)—
    - (A) a portion of the grant [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) in accordance with the proposed distribution set forth in the application; or
    - (B) if no agreement on distribution has been reached, a portion of the grant [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) determined by the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) to be appropriate.
  - (4) **Certifications regarding distribution of grant funds to high-risk urban areas—** A [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) that receives grant [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) shall certify to the [Administrator](/usc/6/601.md?p=1) that the [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) has made available to the applicable [high-risk urban area](/usc/6/601.md?p=6) the required [funds](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) under [paragraph (2)](#d-2).
- (e) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated for grants under this section—
  - (1) $850,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
  - (2) $950,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
  - (3) $1,050,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
  - (4) $1,150,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
  - (5) $1,300,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
  - (6) such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2013, and each fiscal year thereafter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XX, § 2003, as added Pub. L. 110–53, title I, § 101, Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 274.)