"The National Security and Terrorism Prevention program provides competitive grants that will support both capital projects and operational staffing proposals. Rather than rely on formulaic allocation and pass-through mechanisms, this program provides competitive grants to specific state and local agencies to support proposals which address national vulnerabilities identified by the Secretary as priorities. In 2009, the Secretary will invite states to submit project proposals to support REAL ID implementation and buffer zone protection for critical infrastructure. Final grant allocations will be determined competitively by the Secretary on the basis of how well proposals address these identified national vulnerabilities". (FEMA, Statement of R. David Paulison, Administrator, on the Fiscal Year 2009 President's Budget Before the Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives, March 11, 2008, p. 4).