Sen. Dean Heller touted that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now takes into account tourism and special events when it determines how much cities receive in security funding, a boon for Las Vegas, but DHS would not confirm that the move is a permanent change in policy.

“DHS will now consider visitor and special event data in its risk assessment,” Heller, a Republican, said in a release.

But spokespersons for DHS and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which oversees the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) program, would not confirm that tourism and special events would be taken into consideration when determining the size of security grants beyond fiscal year 2019.

“It would be premature to comment on possible future changes to the methodology at this time,” said a FEMA spokesperson, when asked if the change was permanent or precedent-setting.

Heller’s office did respond to inquiries seeking additional comment.

“This is welcome news for Las Vegas – and the entire state of Nevada – as these two major changes to the UASI risk assessment will go a long way toward ensuring our law enforcement officials have the necessary tools they need to protect against and mitigate threats of terrorism,” Heller said in his release.

The change had been sought by the entire delegation and Gov. Brian Sandoval, who most recently wrote to DHS on the issue on March 1. Prior to that, Rep. Dina Titus, a Democrat, wrote to DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen in late October just after she was confirmed by the Senate, citing the Oct. 1 shooting, and she also wrote a UASI letter in 2013. In 2015, Heller and former GOP Reps. Joe Heck and Cresent Hardy wrote to then-DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson on the issue, as well.

Heller’s release comes after the announcement that Las Vegas received $5 million under the program for fiscal 2018, which was nearly double the $2.8 million it was awarded the previous year.

The additional funds were the result of DHS and FEMA adding a risk assessment of soft targets, known as the “Soft Target Index” according to letters dated May 1 and sent to all members of the delegation and Sandoval detailing the change.

“This index is composed of two new data elements: (1) visitors, using the same data used in the calculation of the Population Index and (2) a special events metric using Special Events Assessment Rating data from the Department of Homeland Security Office of Operations Coordination,” the letter said. “The Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise [metropolitan statistical area] ranked first in the special event metric and ranked third in the visitor data for FY 2018.”

The letter also noted: “As in previous years, FEMA will continue to investigate new data sources and methodology changes that can help more accurately assess urban area risk. In its search for data sources, FEMA must ensure that it uses data sources which contribute to a consistent and repeatable methodology.”

Asked to comment on the change, members of the delegation and Sandoval were pleased with the funding, but could not speak to whether there was a permanent change in DHS policy.

“I am pleased that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has created a new soft targets index as part of its risk assessment,” Sandoval said in a statement provided by his office. “Not only did Las Vegas host nearly 43 million visitors last year, but the city also hosts more than 20,000 conventions yearly. It is important the city be prepared.”

Sandoval noted that the state has had difficulty getting its casinos and hotels added to the nation’s lists of critical infrastructure, but would continue to work with federal authorities on the matter.

“While more work remains to be done on the critical infrastructure portion of the risk profile, this funding increase will help ensure Las Vegas has the necessary resources to prevent or respond to a terrorist threat,” Sandoval said.

Titus welcomed the change, but added that she is concerned about efforts to cut funding for the UASI program. However, Congress has ignored cuts proposed in President Donald Trump’s budget blueprints.

“For the last 5 years, I have called for changes to the UASI risk profile determination to better reflect the unique risks we face as one of the world’s premiere travel destinations,” Titus said in a statement provided by her office. “The Trump Administration’s push to cut funding for the UASI program raises serious questions about their judgement. Thankfully Congress has rejected these cuts. Moving forward I’ll continue to work with our local law enforcement and emergency management officials to ensure Las Vegas is receiving the necessary resources to protect our residents and tens of millions of visitors.“

Rep. Jacky Rosen and Rep. Ruben Kihuen, both Democrats, also welcomed the change.

“I’m proud to have worked with the rest of the Nevada delegation on changing the UASI grant formula to better reflect the safety needs of our community in Las Vegas,” Rosen said in a statement from her office. “As a result of our efforts, Las Vegas will be able to receive the additional funding our community needs to keep our city, its residents, and its visitors safe against potential threats.”  

“In Las Vegas, our economy depends on the millions of tourists who visit our city each year. While we welcome these visitors, we have a responsibility to guarantee their safety and security,” Kihuen said in a statement from his office. “UASI funding is crucial to making sure law enforcement has the tools it needs to respond and prevent acts of terrorism in our city. I am pleased that DHS has chosen to expand the scope of this program and empower our law enforcement agencies and first responders to keep Nevadans and tourists who visit the Silver State safe.”

UASI is designed to help metropolitan areas prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism. Prior to the change, the funding was distributed under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Relative Risk Profile formula, which ranks the risk of a terror threat in the nation’s 100 most populous urban areas, also known as metropolitan statistical areas.