FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? DOJ

APRIL 23, 2002??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 202/307-0703

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT ANNOUNCES NEARLY $10 MILLION FOR NEW YORK CITY TO FIGHT TERRORISM

WASHINGTON, D.C. ? Attorney General John Ashcroft announced today that New York City will receive $9.8 million to purchase a specialized helicopter to respond to a variety of emergency situations, including terrorist attacks.

?The nation will never forget the tragic events of September 11, and the heroic response of New York City?s police, firefighters and EMTs.? The President is committed to providing our nation?s emergency first responders the resources and equipment they need to respond effectively to terrorist attacks,? said Attorney General John Ashcroft.? ?This grant is an important part of our nation?s fight against terrorism, and represents the federal, state and local cooperation necessary for us to win that battle.??

The funds will be used by New York City to purchase and equip a Bell Model 412 helicopter that will allow the police department to respond to emergency situations. Including today?s award, the Justice Department has provided more than $13 million to New York City since 1999 to prepare for and respond to incidents of terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction.? In the wake of September 11, the Justice Department has provided training to

more than 8,700 New York City emergency first responders, including law enforcement officers and fire fighters.

Today?s award will be administered by the Justice Department?s Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP), which has the primary responsibility for enhancing the capacity of state and local jurisdictions to respond to incidents of terrorism.? Congress appropriated these funds in the Fiscal Year 2002 Department of Defense/Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act (Public Law 107-117).

ODP also administers the State Domestic Preparedness Equipment Program and the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici (NLD) Domestic Preparedness Program.? The State Domestic Preparedness Equipment Program provides funds to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the territories to purchase a wide array of domestic preparedness equipment.? The NLD Program provides the nation?s 120 largest jurisdictions with a combination of training, exercises and equipment acquisition support tailored to local needs.? The NLD Program was operated by the Department of Defense (DoD) until October 1, 2000, when it was transferred to the Justice Department.? DoD delivered all program elements to 68 of the 120 cities, including Buffalo and New York City.? ODP is completing delivery of the remaining NLD program activities in the remaining cities, including Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers.?

For more information on the Office of Domestic Preparedness (ODP) and other OJP programs, please see OJP's Website at:? www.ojp.usdoj.gov/.

Media calls should be directed to David Hess in OJP?s Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at 202/307-0703.

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