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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2003

SCHUMER: NEW YORK IS GETTING $207 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO COVER "ORANGE ALERT" HOMELAND SECURITY COSTS

Schumer announces that New York will get $207 million from the $700 million that Congress approved last month for areas most at risk for terrorist attacls

Schumer: Funds can be used to recoup expenses New York City and State incurred paying for Operation Atlas during the heightened alert

US Senator Chuck Schumer announced that the New York metropolitan area will get over $200 million of the $700 million for high risk urban areas that Congress approved last April. Although the initial war budget included only $50 million for New York, and other high risk homeland security areas, Schumer played a key role in getting the White House and Congress to increase that amount to $700 million.

"When we went to the Orange Alert just before the war in Iraq, New York put together a first-rate security plan that left no stone unturned. But the City had to dig deep to cover these costs. Tonight, we got word that the federal government will step in and help cover a good portion of these expenses. That's good news that couldn't come too soon," Schumer said. "New York is a target that represents America, and the federal government acknowledged that fact tonight by stepping in to help cover the cost of security. I want to thank the President, Tom Ridge, Mitch Daniels and all those in Congress that heard our plea and worked with us to get these funds."

The Department of Homeland Security today released the $700 million that was allocated for homeland security in the emergency war budget that Congress approved last month. The distribution of the funds takes into account threats, population density and the presence of critical infrastructure.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the funds can be used to cover expenses from the heightened alert period from January 2003 through April 2003, including, but not limited to, "critical infrastructure security, training, exercises, equipment, and information sharing." Funding allocations among the cities, contiguous counties and mutual aid partners will be based on an urban area assessment and preparedness plan. Specifically, New York was awarded:

$125 million for NYC Orange Alert reimbursements and other homeland security expenses. The DHS allocated $125 million to the City of New York, its contiguous counties and mutual aid partners. Allowable uses of funds would include but not be limited to operational activities conducted during the heightened alert level from January 2003 through April 2003, critical infrastructure security, training, exercises, equipment, and information sharing.

$10.3 million for Buffalo Orange Alert reimbursements, which Buffalo can use for the same purposes as New York City (above).

$9.4 Million for Port Security for Port of New York and New Jersey. The port can use the funds for operational activities conducted during Orange Alert from January 2003 through April 2003, critical infrastructure security, security enhancements, training, exercises, equipment, planning, and information sharing.

$32.4 Million for Mass Transit Security including $26.7 million to New York City Transit, $1.4 Million to NYC Department of Transformations, $1.1 million for the Long Island Rail Road, $2.4 million to New Jersey Transit, and $880,000 for the PATH system. These funds can be used for installation of physical barricades; area monitoring systems such as; video surveillance, motion detectors, thermal/IR imagery and chemical/radiological material detection systems; Integrated communications systems; Prevention planning, training and exercises; and operational activities conducted during Orange Alert from January 2003 through April 2003.

$30 Million for Radiological Defense Systems to implement a radiological defensive system in the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan Area.

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