Congress last week moved toward passing legislation that would restore some level of funding for a pilot program to surround New York City with radiation sensors (see GSN, May 15).
The Obama administration's fiscal 2010 budget request eliminates all funding for the Securing the Cities program.
However, the Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee approved a bill that would appropriate $10 million for the effort in the next budget year, Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced Thursday. The lawmaker said that the funds would help to secure gains made under the program, which to date has received more than $73 million to help prevent a nuclear or radiological attack on New York (U.S. Senator Charles Schumer release, June 25).
Legislation passed Wednesday by the House of Representatives would provide $40 million for the program (Diane Barnes, Global Security Newswire, June 29).