SCHUMER ANNOUNCES MAJOR INCREASE IN FEDERAL ANTI-TERROR FUNDING FOR NEW YORK; WILL RECEIVE OVER $240M - $34M MORE THAN LAST YEAR
Schumer Worked With Senate Appropriations Committee To Increase Overall Counter Terrorism Funding, Then Personally Urged the Department of Homeland Security To Give NY The Maximum Possible Amount
Funding Comes From Two Key Programs – The Urban Area Security Initiative and State Homeland Security Grant Program
Schumer: New York Is the Number 1 Terrorist Target In The Nation and Deserves Every Dollar Possible for Counter Terrorism Funding
Yesterday, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that New York stands to receive approximately $240 million for two vital programs that are the lifeblood of New York’s anti-terror initiatives – a $34 million increase over last year. Schumer has led the effort to increase the total funding levels and increase New York’s share of these dollars to reflect the threat level New York faces as the nation’s top terror target.
The funds come from the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP). The UASI funds ($174.2 million, an increase of $22.7 million compared to FY2012) will be used exclusively in the New York metropolitan area. The SHSGP funds ($66.7 million, an increase of $11.1 million compared to FY2012) will be allocated by New York State’s government.
“New York is the nation’s top terrorist target and is now being treated as such by the federal government,” said Schumer. “These significant increases in counter-terrorism funding over last year’s allocations means that NYPD and State law enforcement can continue to do the superior job they do keeping us safe.”
Schumer has aggressively lobbied the White House, Department of Homeland Security, Office of Management and Budget and Senate Appropriations Committee to increase funding levels to better reflect the reality of the threat faced by New York.
About the programs:
· Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), which funds the Lower Manhattan and Midtown Security Initiative, is a program to increase surveillance efforts in Lower Manhattan and the Midtown section of New York City. The New York City Police Department plans to install over 3,000 security cameras in lower and midtown Manhattan, as well as 100 license plate-reading devices which are intended to scan plates and compare the numbers with information in a database. Additionally, the activities the cameras are programmed to pick up include the delivery of packages, unattended bags left for extended periods of time, or a suspicious car repeatedly circling the same block. Other features of the system include mobile roadblocks and radiation detectors. According to the NYPD, the footage from the cameras would be monitored from a center staffed by police officers and highly trained security employees.
· The State Homeland Security Program supports the implementation of state Homeland Security Strategies to address the identified planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events. SHSP also provides funding to implement initiatives in the State Preparedness Report.