A Special Report from the

New York State
Assembly
Committee on
State-Federal
Relations

Sheldon Silver, Speaker   Ann-Margaret Carrozza, Chair     Summer 2002

Dear Friends,

As you may know, the Speaker of the Assembly, Sheldon Silver, recently appointed me to a new State Assembly Chairmanship — the Committee on Oversight, Analysis & Investigation. In this new capacity, I’ll continue to pay close attention to health care and consumer issues as well as tackling entirely new policy areas such as New York State airport safety in the wake of 9/11.

In appointing me to my new position, the Speaker also designated an extraordinarily capable and dedicated new chair for this Committee — Ann-Margaret Carrozza, from Bayside, Queens. Rest assured that Ann will pick up right where I left off by continuing to keep New Yorkers informed of the latest state-federal developments. But perhaps even more importantly, Ann will continue this Committee’s tradition of fighting for all New Yorkers’ interests in Washington.

Jeff Klein

Dear Friends,

I’m thrilled that the Speaker has appointed me to this very important position. State and federal relations have taken on a new and vital importance over the past nine months and I intend to work with the federal government and other elected officials to ensure that New York’s interests are fully served in Washington. I’m going to draw upon the experience I’ve gleaned from serving on other critical Assembly committees and continue the outstanding job that Jeff has done to this point.

My agenda and legislative goals are ensuring New York receives its fair share of federal rebuilding aid and federal mass transit money; working along with Jeff Klein on airport security; and pushing for federal-state health care reform.

Ann-Margaret Carrozza

World Trade Center Recovery Funding

In the Supplemental Appropriations bill congressional leaders approved, New York would receive an additional $5.5 billion in federal funding for lower Manhattan rebuilding efforts. This latest round of federal funding brings total WTC-recovery spending to well over $21 billion. The bill will provide funding for the following:

• $2.66 billion for FEMA emergency response and debris removal;
• $1.8 billion towards building a new transit hub that would connect the PATH trains with all subway lines running through lower Manhattan;
• $750 million for utility reconstruction through Community Development Block Grants to help restore the destroyed energy and telecommunications infrastructure in lower Manhattan;
• $167 million to help repair roads and highways in lower Manhattan through the Federal Highway Administration; and
• $90 million for baseline screenings and long term health monitoring for people working at Ground Zero after 9/11, including $25 million for current and retired firefighters.

(Source: Senator Charles Schumer)

For More Information, contact: Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza Chair, NYS Assembly Committee on State-Federal Relations Room 656 LOB Albany, New York 12248 (518) 455-5425

Airport Security

The Committee has also been working hard on the issue of airport security, and is in the process of sending out a detailed questionnaire to large and small airports throughout New York State soliciting information on the impact of the new federal security requirements as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Upon receipt of the questionnaires, Assemblywoman Carrozza and Assemblyman Klein will jointly review what can be done on the state-federal level to facilitate these security upgrades.

Homeland Defense Budget

Congressional leaders announced on July 19th that they have agreed to the details of the long-delayed $28.9 billion counter-terrorism funding bill. This Supplemental Appropriations bill includes funding for military and intelligence efforts, U.S. homeland security efforts, as well as funding for lower Manhattan’s recovery.

Homeland Security

According to the Office of Homeland Security, the United States — and New York in particular — learned a painful lesson on September 11. American soil is not immune to evil enemies capable of unprecedented acts of mass murder and terror. A new wave of terrorism, involving new weapons, looms in America’s future. It is a challenge unlike any ever faced by our Nation and our State. However, we possess the resources and the determination to defeat our enemies and work to secure our homeland against the threats they pose.

Virtually every sector of American society exhibited courage and responsibility by addressing the security needs of the country. At the Federal level, Congress immediately appropriated a $40 billion Emergency Response Fund to wage war against Al Qaeda, aid the reconstruction efforts in New York and Virginia, compensate victims, and strengthen our defenses at home. A total of $10.6 billion was dedicated to homeland security, which has allowed the Federal government to:

• increase the number of sky marshals on our airlines;
• acquire enough medicine to treat up to 10 million more people for anthrax or other bacterial infection;
• distribute $1.1 billion to states to strengthen their capacity to respond to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies resulting from terrorism; and,
• deploy hundreds of Coast Guard personnel.

(Source: Office of Homeland Security)

E.P.A. to Lead Cleanup Effort of Homes Close to Ground Zero

In a sharp reversal of policy, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to take the lead in cleaning and testing the apartments south of Canal Street in Lower Manhattan that were affected by the World Trade Center collapse. Until now, the Federal Government had said that indoor spaces were the responsibility of owners and residents. Under the new plan, any resident south of Canal Street will be able to call an E.P.A. number and have his or her apartment cleaned — for the first time, or again — at government expense, following guidelines established by the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The EPA, New York City, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are taking a collaborative approach that will include:

• cleanups of residential units on request, using certified contractors;
• follow-up testing for asbestos in the indoor air;
• testing-only for asbestos in the indoor air for requesting households;
• availability of HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter vacuums;
• establishment of a hotline to provide information and take cleanup and testing requests;
• distribution of health and cleanup information; and,
• professional cleanup of remaining unoccupied, uncleaned buildings.

Under the plan, FEMA will provide a grant to New York City that will pay for professional cleaning and testing. The toll-free Hotline number for dust cleanup is 1-877-796-5471 (TTY for the deaf and hard of hearing: 1-800-396-1018). Residents can also sign up electronically (at http://www.epa.gov/wtc/) for cleaning and testing.

COPS Program

The Committee called on President Bush last year not to slash the budget of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program and not to eliminate the Drug Elimination Program that helps combat drugs in public housing. These programs have been instrumental in reducing crime all over the state and particularly in New York City. Since 1995, the COPS program has funded more than 110,700 new police officers nationwide, with more than 10,000 in New York State. In federal fiscal year 2002 the COPS program made over $330 million available to state and local police forces. According to Senator Charles Schumer, the president’s proposed cuts would eliminate over $215 million or funding for over 2800 police officers throughout New York State over the next six years.