HOUSE WEIGHS $750 MILLION FUND TO REBUILD N.Y.C. INFRASTRUCTURE
House began debating legislation late Wed. afternoon that would create $750 million fund for economic revitalization of Lower Manhattan. Communications infrastructure operators whose facilities were destroyed or damaged in last year’s World Trade Center attack are potential recipients of aid, which was proposed by President Bush and supported earlier this week by the House Appropriations Committee. Panel recognized in its report (H. Rept. 107-480) on FY 2003 emergency appropriations bill (HR- 4775) importance of that infrastructure to economic health of N.Y.C.
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Report said: “The committee further understands that insurance proceeds will reimburse utility companies for only a portion of their losses and their cost to restore this damaged infrastructure. Therefore, the committee encourages the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation to consider the needs of the utility companies as it allocates assistance provided from the Community Development Fund.” HR-4775 would enable federal govt. “to waive or specify alternative requirements for” compliance with Community Development Block Grant statutes or regulations.
Bill would provide $300 million for dislocated worker assistance nationwide, including $190 million for period ending Sept. 30, 2003. Funds would be used for multistate and multiservice projects that “target high-growth sectors where worker shortages exist and involve a partnership” of industry, govt., academia. Amount is $450 million less than President’s request. Committee said it was “most disappointed” Dept. of Labor had failed to address “critical need for timely and accurate data to fulfill the committee’s oversight responsibilities.” It said it wouldn’t “recommend large expenditures of public funds without proper justification.”
Office of Justice Programs (OJP) would get $175 million for state and local preparedness support, including $80 million for equipment and $10 million to enhance ability of Dept. of Justice (DoJ) to “rapidly disseminate data” to state and local authorities. Report said: “The committee understands that OJP is currently evaluating existing national information systems used by local law enforcement and examining other alternatives for enhancing the electronic dissemination of terrorist data.”
FBI would get $17.5 million emergency funding to bolster its terrorist tracking capabilities “and to build safeguards into the FBI’s networks in order to enable the FBI to communicate electronically with other law enforcement entities without compromising its network security.” Committee said it “remains concerned with the FBI’s ability to ensure that its systems and information are safeguarded from internal and external threats, and therefore wants to provide: (1) $44 million for “investigative data warehousing and data mining tools.” (2) $18 million for the agency’s information assurance program. (3) $8 million for digital storage and retrieval of documents related to the Sept. 11 investigation. (4) $8 million for “contract support” related to development of its “Trilogy” information system.
Committee rejected request by White House Office of Administration for additional $5 million to build off-site Office of Homeland Security (OHS) personnel and communications facility. Panel said “it’s concerned this space is being designed prematurely” and it was “extremely disappointed” White House hadn’t responded to questions about facility: “The committee requested information on the coordination, communications and incident management rooms at the off-site facility. Specifically, the committee requested a description of how the functions of these rooms differ from those currently being operated by other federal law enforcement agencies… The committee believes [OHS] should be fully accountable for its use of appropriated funds to support both operations and infrastructure of OHS.”
Bcstg. Board of Govs. would get $7.7 million to support board’s Arabic broadcasting initiative. Funds would be used to build medium-wave transmission facility in Tunisia. Board also would get $7.4 million for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty broadcasts into Afghanistan.