DHS budgetN.Y. businesses protest DHS budget cuts
On Monday more than 100 New York City business executives urged lawmakers to maintain current DHS spending levels to prevent a future terrorist attack in the city; their business people move comes in response to the latest proposed budget for DHS by the House which looks to cut more than $1 billion, or 2.6 percent, of the agency’s budget; meanwhile the Senate has proposed cutting more than $650 million from DHS’ 2011 budget of $41 billion
On Monday more than 100 New York City business executives urged lawmakers to maintain current DHS spending levels to prevent a future terrorist attack in the city.
The CEOs of major corporations including American Express, News Corp., and Macy’s sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R – Ohio), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D – California), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D – Nevada), and House Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R – Kentucky) in an effort to persuade them to avoid cutting New York’s DHS funding.
“As employers and taxpayers, we write to express deep concern of proposed reductions in federal funding in the House and Senate appropriations legislation for Homeland Security programs that are essential to our country’s security,” the business leaders wrote. “Specifically, we are concerned about funding reductions that will dramatically increase the vulnerability of New York City to international terrorism.”
Their letter comes in response to the latest proposed budget for DHS by the House which looks to cut more than $1 billion or 2.6 percent of the agency’s budget. Meanwhile the Senate has proposed cutting more than $650 million from DHS’ 2011 budget of $41 billion.
The business leaders emphasized the importance of protecting New York City, one of the key financial centers for the United States.
“As the business and financial capital of the United States, New York City is also the number one target of international terrorists,” they wrote.
Cutting federal money to New York’s security programs could jeopardize the health of the city and the country, the letter argued.
The presidents and CEOs of Viacom, Verizon, Time Warner Cable, JetBlue Airways, Madison Square Garden, McGraw-Hill, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, the head of ConEdison, HSBC bank, MetLife, Liz Claiborne, Modell’s Sporting Goods, and Deutsche Bank Americas all signed the letter.
“Contemplated cuts in federal funding will seriously undermine confidence in the security of our city that we have all worked so hard, together, to restore. This is something that our city and country cannot afford,” the executives concluded.
