Cord Byrd: “the Senate will soon have before it the fiscal year 2002 supplemental appropriations conference report. This legislation…”

“the Senate will soon have before it the fiscal year 2002 supplemental appropriations conference report. This legislation provides for the defense of this Nation, both at home and abroad. Specifically, the bill provides $14.4 billion for the Department of Defense. It allocates $5.5 billion to New York to complete the promise made to provide $20 billion to help recover from the terrorist attacks on September 11. Another $1 billion is for Pell grants, $417 million for veterans' medical care, $400 million for election reform grants, and $2.1 billion for foreign affairs. The bill also provides $205 million for Amtrak. Amtrak is an integral piece of the Nation's transportation network. For many rural communities, Amtrak represents the only public transportation connection to the rest of the Nation. But without the funding contained in this bill, that connection is in danger of being severed. Because of growing financial pressures, Amtrak needs an infusion of funding soon or else it faces bankruptcy. The $205 million included in this supplemental appropriations bill will stave off bankruptcy and give the passenger railroad, which is under new management, time to craft sound plans for the future. Most importantly, this bill provides $6.7 billion for homeland security, including $3.85 billion for the Transportation Security Administration. That is why this funding bill is so important.”