WASHINGTON, D.C.: Concerned that the state of New York may have mismanaged $156 million in federal funds that were meant to provide mental health treatment to victims of September 11^th, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (NY), along with eight other New York members of Congress, has urged Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge to conduct a full inquiry into the mater.

In addition, the members of Congress have formally asked Governor Pataki to respond to a series of questions about delays in the distribution of the funds, the redirecting of resources, and the State's plans to meet remaining mental health needs related to 9/11.

The program in question, Project Liberty, was intended to provide treatment to thousands of New Yorkers in need of mental health counseling in the aftermath of September 11^th . While many received help, several mental health service providers have noted extreme delays in getting funds to establish programs, and then, almost immediately receiving notices that their contracts through Project Liberty would be terminated. New York State has announced plans to terminate these Project Liberty contracts for mental health care, citing the transfer of $33 million in funds to school-based mental health services and FEMA regulations that allegedly limit crisis counseling to the first nine months after a disaster.

In a letter to Governor Pataki, New York members of Congress point out that even if the $33 million was taken from Project Liberty, $56 million would still remain in the fund, and given the amount of time that has passed since the inception of Project Liberty that "there is no more time to waste." Regarding the question of potential FEMA time limits on the use of the funds, the Congressional letter notes that existing Federal regulations permit the use of federal funds for crisis counseling services for periods longer than nine months, adding that "the mental health treatment model needed after a terrorist attack is different from that used by FEMA following a natural disaster such as a hurricane."

Congresswoman Maloney said, "New York's mental health providers waited for months to start helping people, and then the State turns around and tells them the money is gone and their programs need to end. It doesn't make sense."

The Congressional letter to the Governor concludes that: "It would be a huge mistake to consider the unexpended Project Liberty balance and the lack of Crime Victims Board compensation as evidence that mental health services are no longer needed. We ask for immediate clarification on these matters, and for an assurance from you that Project Liberty and CVB funds will be expended for the purposes intended, so that the people who have been waiting for so long can access the help they need."

New York Members of Congress signing the letters to Ridge and Pataki were: Carolyn Maloney, Jose Serrano, Michael McNulty, Edolphus Towns, Major Owens, Jerrold Nadler, Anthony Weiner, Gary Ackerman, and Steve Israel. The letters can be viewed at www.house.gov/maloney

BACKGROUND: An effort by Congresswoman Maloney and other members of the New York delegation to have federal aid allocated to cover the 9/11 mental health needs of New York City's students proved successful in March of 2003, when FEMA agreed to provide $33 million for school-based mental health services. In the letter to Ridge, members of Congress question the lengthy amount of time it has taken to disburse those funds, asking why 18 months passed before schools received trauma counseling they needed to cope with the crisis. Full details on the struggle to win recovery aid for the New York school system can be found at http://maloney.house.gov/documents/olddocs/Sept11/nycschools.html

In addition, the recent letter to Governor Pataki emphasizes that only a fraction of those expected to apply for help have actually done so. The members of Congress suggest in the letter that the reason for this is not lack of interest or need, but unreasonable restrictions and delays.

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