Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. approved funding from the 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill to do a seismic upgrade on the Brigham City Senior Center, despite Arizona Senator John McCain’s complaints.

McCain was quoted in many publications nationwide, including the Salt Lake Tribune, as saying “Last time I checked, senior centers are important, but they have very little relationship to homeland security.” And on his Twitter page, the $250,000 approved for Brigham City was tagged as “wasteful spending.”

Utah senators Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, with support from Congressman Rob Bishop, made a grant request through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Fund earlier this year. FEMA, a division of Homeland Security, allocates money to this program every year in an effort to reduce the potential for large-scale disasters. Money spent prior to a disaster often means less money spent when the disaster actually occurs.

The only criterion for receiving the grant money is the prevention of loss of life and property.

Once the grant application is made, it must be reviewed by FEMA officials at the state, regional and national levels before getting final approval from Congress. Because Congress - not FEMA - must approve the funds, it is technically classified as an earmark.

According to Jim Buchanan, emergency services, Brigham City’s Senior Center plays multiple roles in the community. The Senior Center offers low-cost meals to the elderly, both on-site and through Delivery of Meals on Wheels. However, it has also been designated as an emergency shelter in the event of a major disaster.

The $250,000 in federal funding, in addition to a 25 percent cash match from local funds, will be used to upgrade the center’s roof, doors and windows, all of which have been targeted as the building’s weakest points. If the president signs the bill, Buchanan said work could begin as early as next summer, but there are still some challenges to work through. Every attempt will be made to do the retrofit with as little impact to seniors as possible.