Schumer: Federal Homeland Security Money Cannot Go To MTA's Greatest Needs

SCHUMER: FEDERAL HOMELAND SECURITY MONEY CANNOT GO TO MTA's GREATEST NEEDS

Due to Funding Mandates MTA Not Authorized to Spend Federal Money Where Needed Most, Police Overtime, Bomb-Sniffing Dogs, Structural Hardening

Schumer to Introduce Amendment to Homeland Security Appropriations Bill will Reprogram Critical Federal Funding to Help MTA

The Metropolitan Transit Authority is not authorized to spend federal homeland security dollars in the places they need it most, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer revealed today. Though the MTA is desperately in need of more bomb-sniffing dogs, overtime for police, concrete reinforcement of structures like tunnels and bridges, bollards and better lighting, the money they receive from the federal government can only be used for new technology and evacuation drills. Today Schumer pledged to offer an amendment this week to the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill that would change the way the money is used, and provide the flexibility required to spend federal dollars on real security needs.

"Its unbelievable to me that Federal Homeland Security money can't be put toward our most critical needs and instead can only be used on complicated detection devices and drills. The MTA has made it clear that they need more people and better infrastructure, the fact that money that we secured for exactly these purposes remains unspent is a mystery," Schumer said. "The soft underbelly of buses and subways and railroads are fully exposed to similar terrorist attacks unless we take real steps to beef up mass transit security immediately, redirecting this money will certainly help. The security professionals who deal with these issues everyday need to have the flexibility and power to spend the money in ways that will keep us safe."

Schumer will also offer an amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill that would quadruple the $100 million in the bill for both mass transit and rail security, for a total of $400 million for FY 2006. The proposed amendment would also double funding for bus security improvements from $10 million to $20 million. Schumer is also including a provision in the amendment that would require DHS to devote $50 million from DHS's science budget to develop explosive detectors for mass transit stations, rail cars, and buses

The Homeland Security Appropriations Bill is being taken up today in the Senate.

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/pr-latest_news.html