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Cuts in Homeland Security Funds for NYC is Unbelievable, Insulting

by N.Y. Dem. Rep. Eliot Engel - 06/07/06 12:51 PM ET

Everyone knows that on September 11th 2001 nearly 3000 New Yorkers were killed in the attack on the World Trade Center and of course several hundred here in Washington D.C. at the Pentagon. Yet the Department of Homeland Security has chosen to cut both New York and Washington by 40% of Homeland Security funds for this year. It is absolutely mind boggling, unbelievable and outrageous that New York and Washington would face these cuts.

New York’s money is scheduled to go down from $207.6 million in 2005 to $124.5 million in 2006, and now to add insult to injury we hear the Department of Homeland Security is cutting New York Bio Terrorism money 15% as well. So that per capita in New York, we would receive $2.99 per resident to fight bio terrorism, while the good people of Wyoming would receive $9.72 per person to fight Bio Terrorism, and the good people of North Dakota would receive $8.09 per person to fight terrorism. We all know the threat in North Dakota and in Wyoming is not nearly as great as New York.

What is Secretary Chertoff thinking? What are they thinking over there? Their policies and their thoughts need to change.