Gibbons says tourists will again be counted for anti-terror grants

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said Friday tourist populations will again be counted in deciding how much anti-terror funding states and cities receive.

The Homeland Security appropriations act approved by the House, he said, ensures that cities such as Las Vegas aren't limited to just their resident populations in calculating their homeland security grants.

Southern Nevada in particular has been hurt in the past couple of budget cycles because its tourist population wasn't part of the formula. State officials have argued the huge tourist population in the south makes the Las Vegas Strip a much more attractive target for terrorist attacks than other cities with the same resident population.

"Tourism is Nevada's largest industry and last year we welcomed over 50 million visitors to the state," said Gibbons. "As a result, I have made it one of my highest priorities to educate my colleagues on the importance of including transient populations in the risk assessment formulas."

Among other things, The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of FY 2007 provides $3.4 billion for state and local first responders and $21.3 billion for border protection, immigration enforcement and related activities.