Bush's Budget and New York
The proposed budget that Bush released in early February has been broken down by state interests, including provisions that are purported to be of specific interest to New York. These provisions include:
Liberty Bonds for New York: President Bush's FY 2005 budget includes an extension of the New York Liberty Bonds program until 2009. New York Liberty Bonds were signed into law by President Bush in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The Liberty Bonds program allows the State of New York and New York City to issue up to $8 billion in special tax-exempt private activity bonds to help finance capital projects in the newly-designated Liberty Zone, located in lower Manhattan. Approximately $2 billion in Liberty Bonds have been issued or authorized to date.
Energy Assistance for low-income Americans (LIHEAP) The President's Budget provides $2 billion in total funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, including a $100 million increase in contingency funds which will allow the Administration to respond to both winter and summer emergencies. LIHEAP helps eligible families pay the costs of heating and insulating their homes in the winter, and cooling their homes in the summer. New York will receive more than $224 million under the President's FY 2005 budget.
Brownfields Cleanup The President recognizes that clean-up and management of hazardous waste and abandoned industrial sites (brownfields) can provide significant economic, environmental, and public health benefits to communities. The budget provides $210 million, a $40 million or 24% increase over the 2004 enacted level, to continue the President's commitment to accelerate the clean-up and redevelopment of our nation's brownfields, revitalizing neighborhoods and stimulating local economies.
Superfund: The budget provides $1.4 billion for the Superfund, a $123 million (10%) increase over the 2004 enacted level. The budget includes a $124 million (48%) increase for the Superfund's remedial program over the 2004 enacted level. This increase will allow 8-12 additional construction starts in 2005 and a similar number of completions by 2006.
Clean Air: To help the Nation meet new stringent, health-based air quality standards, the President's budget will fund his Clear Skies Initiative to cut power plant pollution by 70%, the Interstate Air Quality rule, and the Administration's new regulations on diesel engines and fuel. The President's budget protects public health and improves air quality through a significantly expanded
Clean School Bus USA: program that will reduce harmful bus emissions and help protect human health in a way that promotes local solutions to air quality problems. Funding for this program will be increased from $5 million to $65 million.
Posted by Palabris at February 23, 2004 12:25 AM
