Iowa’s homeland security adviser and local representatives agree the federal government is not adequately funding homeland security.

President Bush promised $3.5 billion last year to fund the work of police, firefighters and other front lines of a terrorist attack, said Gov. Gray Davis, D-Calif.

Then on March 7, the Department of Homeland Security announced it will provide about $566 million for firemen, police, medical workers and others who would respond in the event of a terrorist attack.

But Davis said California’s state government is left to fund the shortfall of the money that Bush hasn’t produced.

Ellen Gordon, Iowa’s homeland security adviser, said she had high hopes for being able to move forward with homeland security last year when Bush’s budget promised more funding.

However, she said Iowa has also not received as much money as Bush promised.

“There are a number of things we’re not going to be able to do this year because there’s not enough money,” Gordon said.

She said several areas of Iowa’s homeland security will be affected by the lack of funds.

Training and equipment for first responders and firefighters, cyber security, bioterrorism, agriterrorism and food security are areas Gordon said will have cutbacks.

Rep. Jane Greimann, D-Ames, said she believes Iowa’s firefighters and other first responders would benefit from more training.

“I have always felt like firemen and first responders are asking for more training than they are getting,” she said.

Gordon said she does not believe homeland security will get more money from Iowa.

“I do not see our state appropriation changing or increasing to accommodate the needs of homeland security,” she said.

Rep. Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock, said he believes federal dollars issued for homeland security last year were poorly spent.

He said of the $12 million issued for bioterrorism last year, $5 million was spent to hire employees on the state level.

“We need to be deciding whether we’re using our resources wisely,” Dix said.

He said Iowans should feel safe with Iowa’s security.

“Everybody’s working hard to develop new initiatives that will provide better security,” Dix said.

Gordon said while homeland security is costly, it is important that Iowa be prepared with security.

“We have a considerable terrorist threat in out country and not any one area is immune from that threat,” she said.

“We need to prepare ourselves for terrorist attacks and be prepared to respond if we can’t prevent it.”

—CNN contributed to this article