The Quest for Hometown Security

Since Rogers became chairman of the House Appropriations homeland security subcommittee in 2003, the Homeland Security Department's science and technology division has given at least $34 million to the hometown institute and the consortium of Kentucky schools. That compares with $18 million the division gave to a Texas A&M University consortium, $15 million each to a Johns Hopkins University consortium and a University of Minnesota consortium, and $12 million each to a University of Southern California consortium and a University of Maryland consortium, according to figures supplied by Homeland Security Department spokesman Russ Knocke.

Unlike the Kentucky schools, the others are considered "Centers of Excellence." The centers were mandated by the law that created the Homeland Security Department to "bring together the nation's best experts and focus its most talented researchers on a variety of threats." The schools that constitute the Centers of Excellence all competed for their designations and funding.

Knocke initially described the Kentucky funding as an "earmark."

"DHS is not a decision-maker with respect to where the funding goes," he said in a statement.

Knocke later issued another statement, saying his previous remark "has turned out to be not completely accurate information, as erroneously provided to me by one of our directorate's (sic). This is not an earmark."

Some scientists familiar with homeland-security-related technology said the projects at the Kentucky schools could be helpful in protecting the nation. But others noted that a few of the projects appeared to be underfunded or duplicative.

"In principle, most of these things on their surface look like reasonable things to do," said Tony Fainberg, a government physicist for 20 years who recently retired from the Homeland Security Department's science and technology division, which gave the money to the Kentucky schools.

The department gave $1 million to the University of Kentucky, along with Morehead State University, Eastern Kentucky University and Alice Lloyd College to develop wall treatment materials that can be used in buildings to "protect against explosions, radiological exposure, chemical agents and electromagnetic pulses," according to a news release issued by Rogers's office.

The University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University received $1.5 million "to develop a wireless electronic monitoring system for securing milk from the farm to the processing plant."

The department gave $124,280 to the University of Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky University to reduce the explosive potential of agricultural fertilizer, a frequently used component in makeshift bombs.

The University of Kentucky also received $95,751 "to determine the best way to manage and disseminate information during time-stressed situations."

Rogers's wife, Cynthia, is a vice chair of the board of regents at Eastern Kentucky University, which has received authorization for $23.2 million in Homeland Security Department funds, including $20 million in the current fiscal year that the university will distribute to "selected applicants," a department official said.

She said in a recent interview that her husband did not help her secure the unpaid position and had nothing to do with the grants going to her university.

"People who know me, they know I can do things on my own," Cynthia Rogers said. "Hal said, 'People are going to talk, so let them talk.' "

Rogers denied playing any role in obtaining the funding for individual schools, but he took credit for creating the consortium.

"It's one of the highlights of my life," Rogers said. "I'm thrilled to death with it."

O'Harrow reported from Kentucky and Higham from Washington.