108th Congress

Number: 
108

MORE FEDERAL AID TO KEEP SECOND AVENUE SUBWAY ON TRACK:

WASHINGTON, DC - New York's Second Avenue subway got another major endorsement this year from the full Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives yesterday with the inclusion of $3 million for the project in the appropriations bill that passed the full committee. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens), the prime sponsor of the project in the House called decision "a major development for the much needed subway."

TIGHTENING THE SCREWS ON INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTORS

WASHINGTON, DC - An amendment passed today by the House of Representatives will increase the pressure on parents who take their children out of the United States and keep them their against their will and the will of their relatives in America. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14), joined with Reps. Doug Ose (CA-03), Dan Burton (IN-05) and Nick Lampson (TX-09) to offer the amendment on international child abduction, which passed unanimously, 424-0.

ACTING ON THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM 9/11

WASHINGTON, DC - Drawing from important lessons learned by New York City as it recovers from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14), together with Reps. Michael McNulty (NY-21), Jose Serrano (NY-16), and Ed Towns (NY-10), today introduced legislation that would open up more avenues of federal disaster relief to jurisdictions struck by terrorism. The "Community Protection and Response Act" would make recovery aid more accessibly by designating terrorist attacks, or "Homeland Security Events", as major disasters. In a sad irony, the Government Reform Committee unanimously approved this legislation during the development of the historic bill to create the Department of Homeland Security (H.R. 5005) last year, but it was stripped from the bill last year by the Republican leadership behind closed doors.

QUESTIONS RAISED IN USE OF 9/11 MENTAL HEALTH AID NEW YORK CONGRESSMEMBERS CALL FOR INQUIRY

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Concerned that the state of New York may have mismanaged $156 million in federal funds that were meant to provide mental health treatment to victims of September 11th, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (NY), along with eight other New York members of Congress, has urged Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge to conduct a full inquiry into the mater.

IT'S TIME TO ELIMINATE FRAUD AND WASTE BY FEDERAL CONTRACTORS

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and Peter King (R-NY) along with Reps. Gary Miller (R-CA), Paul Kanjorski (D-PA), Major Owens (D-NY), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), and Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) introduced the Contractor Accountability Act of 2003, which would improve Federal agency oversight of contracts with private companies and strengthen accountability of the government-wide debarment and suspension system. This legislation stems from a long commitment to increased disclosure in government contracts and a revised report and database of contractor irresponsibility by the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) www.pogo.org. <http://www.pogo.org.>

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO ADMINISTRATION: HELP US PROTECT HIGH-THREAT CITIES

WASHINGTON, DC - Members of Congress representing the areas of the country most likely to be targeted for terrorist attacks today sent a letter to key members of the Bush administration requesting more federal funding to secure the country's largest centers of population, power and infrastructure. The letters urge Homeland Secretary Tom Ridge and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson to revise funding formulas that they largely control to focus more on high-risk areas. Ridge has said publicly that he supports a "significantly higher" amount high-threat grants and a revision of distribution formulas but has not submitted a proposal to Congress. The letters were written by Reps. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) and Anthony Wiener (NY-9) and signed by 16 of their colleagues.

GIVING AFGHAN WOMEN A ROLE IN REBUILDING THEIR NATION

WASHINGTON, DC - Long-oppressed and neglected, Afghan women got significant assistance toward gaining equality today when Rep. Carolyn Maloney's (NY-14) amendment to the State Department authorization bill (H.R. 1950) was inserted into the bill. The provision, which is co-sponsored by Rep. Tom Lantos (CA-) will set forth guidelines for Afghan women to gain involvement in the rebuilding of Afghanistan - an undertaking that will fundamentally shape the country's future. The measure will establish an Afghan Women's Fund at $22.5 million per year to provide the underserved women of Afghanistan with greater protection and educational, economic and health care opportunities.

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