WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) stood with Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) today at a press conference urging passage of the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.
President Bush is threatening to veto the $37.6 billion Senate legislation because it provides $2.2 billion more than he requested in funding.
“It is clear that President Bush has one set of priorities and America has another. While the President threatens to veto a homeland security bill with $2.2 billion in increased homeland security funds, he is spending $3 billion per week on the war in Iraq,” said Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ). “We have drafted a homeland security funding bill to make America safer by protecting our railroads, our airports, our streets and our cities. Congress should pass this bill and the President should sign it.”
The Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Bill provides $37.6 billion in vital homeland security program funding, including:
- $4 billion for State and Local homeland security grant programs;
- $400 million for port and rail security; and
- $89.4 million for explosive detection systems at airports.
Homeland security funds are particularly important for New Jersey. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the most dangerous two miles in America for terrorist attack is the stretch between Port Newark and Newark International Airport.
Sen. Lautenberg serves on both the Appropriations Committee and the Homeland Security Subcommittee and helped craft the legislation.
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