THE LATEST FEDERALLY FUNDED ANTI-TERROR PROGRAM: AIR CONDITIONED GARBAGE TRUCKS???

HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING
STILL GOING TO THE WORST KIND OF PORK…
…WHILE IMPORTANT NEW YORK CITY NEEDS REMAIN UNMET

New York City – According to Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens & Brooklyn), a member of the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, millions of dollars that are supposed to fight terror are actually going to the very worst kind of pork barrel programs. Meanwhile, many of New York City’s homeland security needs remain unmet.

Congress is charged with funding the nation’s homeland security programs.

But yesterday, Congress went home for the summer having failed to fund several programs that would have improved New York City’s anti-terror efforts—and instead allowed the funding to be used for pork.

FUNDED WITH FEDERAL HOMELAND SECURITY DOLLARS:

Texas: A Custom Trailer for the October Mushroom Festival

Nebraska: Nose Leads, Halters and Electric Prods

New Jersey: Air-Conditioned Garbage Trucks

South Dakota: A Paging System for the South Dakota State Fair

Washington D.C.: A Rap Song to Teach Children Emergency Preparedness
Sources: Denver Post; National Public Radio; Omaha World Herald; CBS News.

NOT FUNDED:

New York City: Terrorism Cops

New York City: Police Overtime

New York City: Subway Cops

New York City: Volunteer Pumper Truck for Breezy Point

New York City: Volunteer EMS Portable Radios
Sources: NYPD; Mayor’s Management Report; Daily News; Point Breeze Volunteer Fire Department; Rockaway Point Volunteer Fire Department.

“We can never relax our efforts to keep New York City safe,” said Rep. Weiner. “That means a comprehensive approach, at every level, and never taking your eye off the ball. We’ve got to fight for every homeland security dollar.”

Weiner has led the fight in Congress to win homeland security dollars for New York City.

He introduced the “THREAT Act” in January of 2004, which would have limited the number of cities getting high-threat anti-terror funding to eight. He authored language that passed the House in May, requiring the Department of Homeland Security to change the formula they use to determine “risk” so that actual threat is the most important factor in determining how federal anti-terror dollars are distributed. He amended the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Bill to explicitly allow for the hiring of police officers. His amendment to reauthorize the Community Oriented Policing Services or COPS program, including new language to hire new terrorism cops, passed the Judiciary Committee this month, which provides $1 billion for the next three years, or 13,000 new cops on the beat nationally each year – 36,000 cops total (2,520 for NYPD).

[Attached is a list of some of the most outrageous things homeland security funding has been used for.]

HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING USED FOR ANYTHING BUT HOMELAND SECURITY

Newark, New Jersey: air-conditioned garbage trucks -- $300,000.

Madisonville, Texas (pop. 4,200): a custom trailer that will be used during the annual October Mushroom Festival for people who are overheated or injured that will double as a command center should terrorists attack -- $30,000.

Washington, DC: a rap song to teach children emergency preparedness -- $100,000.

Washington, DC: Dale Carnegie public speaking training for sanitation workers -- $100,000.

Converse, Texas: a trailer to transport lawnmowers to lawnmower drag races -- $3,000.

Nebraska: nose leads, halters and electric prods (cost undetermined).

South Dakota: on-site paging system for the State agricultural fair -- $29,995.

Washington, DC, computerized car towing service, $300,000.

Montgomery County, Maryland: 8 large screen plasma television monitors -- $160,000.

Tiptonville, Tennessee: a variety of purchases including a Gator all-terrain vehicle and two defibrillators, one for use at high school basketball games -- $183,000.

Santa Clara County, California: four Segway scooters to transport bomb squad personnel -- $18,000.

Mason County, Washington: biochemical decontamination units that have been sitting in a warehouse for more than a year with no one trained to use them -- $63,000.

Prince Georges County, Maryland: digital camera system used for mug shots -- $500,000.

The Transportation Security Administration: decorative artwork, plants, kitchen appliances, and fitness center equipment -- $500,000.

Sources: CBS News; Washington Post; National Public Radio; Denver Post; Omaha World Herald; Associated Press; Christian Science Monitor.