Press Release

ARCURI VOTES TO MAKE AMERICA SAFER BY IMPLEMENTING THE 9/11 COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. House of Representatives today approved legislation (H.R.1) supported by U.S. Representative Michael Arcuri (D-Utica) that would implement the 9/11 Commission’s unfilled recommendations and protect our nation from future acts of terrorism.

“I remember that tragic day when our nation was attacked and how we rallied together to ensure our safety and security,” Arcuri said.  “That day we vowed – never again.  Today, we passed critical legislation that will bring us closer to that promise by putting in place concrete steps to make our nation more safe and secure.”

Specifically, H.R. 1 fulfills the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation to allocate homeland security funding based on risk, directing more resources to states facing a higher risk of attack.

“This legislation provides states like New York with even more resources to get the job done,” Arcuri said.  “Under the new funding formula, New York is likely to receive a much-needed, larger share of vital homeland security dollars.”

H.R. 1 also includes a number of other steps to improve homeland security, such as:

• Creates a stand-alone grant program to provide first responders with equipment that allows then to communicate with one another during emergencies;
• Phases in a requirement of 100% inspection of the cargo carried on passenger aircraft over the next three years;
• Accelerates the installation of explosive detection systems for checked baggage at the nation’s airports;
• Improves explosive detection systems at passenger checkpoints at the nation’s airports; and
• Phases in a requirement of 100% scanning of U.S.-bound shipping containers over the next five years.

The bill also includes provisions to prevent terrorists from acquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction, such as securing loose nuclear materials in the former Soviet Union, and steps to halt the spread of extremism in the Middle East.

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