Specific Projects of Interest

Working Towards a Second Avenue Subway Line

 (Public Law 108-007, 108th Congress) -- Rep. Maloney secured an appropriation for the 2nd Avenue Subway in NYC in the Fiscal Year 2002 Transportation appropriations bill and in an emergency spending bill the year prior.  The final Fiscal Year 2003 omnibus appropriations bill included $2 million for the Second Avenue Subway. This marked the third consecutive year of progress for the subway.  These appropriations were the first federal monetary commitments to building the subway and are an indication of the growing momentum for the project.  Additional funding includes $2 million in FY04, $2.5 million in FY05, and $25 million in FY06.  [Public Law 108-007 was signed February 20, 2003]

Seeking Better Treatments and Cures for Parkinson’s – 

As a co-chair of the Parkinson’s Disease Congressional Working group, Congresswoman Maloney has been successful in increasing federal funding for Parkinson's research.  For the past five years, there has been a bipartisan commitment to doubling the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget.  In the FY04 Appropriations bill, Representative Maloney, along with her colleagues on the Congressional Working Group on Parkinson’s Disease, succeeded in obtaining language on the importance of blueberries as well as B vitamins in reversing many of the neurological changes that are associated with age-related neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. 

The FY04 Omnibus appropriations bill included $1.5 billion for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).  It also included a total of $28 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  Both funding levels are increases over FY03 levels.  
Finally, the FY04 Omnibus appropriations bill included $5 million for the development of new molecular imaging probes applies to programs that bring together PET imaging, systems biology and nanotechnology to develop new molecular imaging probes.  

[In FY 1998, NIH funding was $13.6 billion, in the final FY 2003 omnibus appropriations bill (H. J. Res. 2) $27.2 billion was included for the National Institutes of Health, finishing the doubling.  Because of the work of the Working Group, the FY 2001, FY 2002, and FY 2003 Labor-HHS Appropriations bills contained unprecedented language directing the NIH to fully fund the Parkinson's Disease Research Agenda.   Although NIH has increased Parkinson’s research funding, they have not meet the full funding levels detailed in the five year agenda. For instance, in FY 2002, NIH’s Parkinson’s research spending was  $198.8 million, a $43 million increase over FY 2000, but not full funding.  Additionally, the Working Group secured a funding increase for the Department of Defense Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Research Program (NETRP). The FY 2003 Defense Appropriations bill contained $21.25 million in funding for the program, a 20% increase over FY 2002.  NETRP also received funding in FY05 ($26 million), FY06 ($23 million), and FY07 ($26.5 million).

The FY04 Omnibus appropriations bill

 included $1.5 billion for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). It also included a total of $28 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Both funding levels are increases over FY03 levels.

Finally, the FY04 Omnibus appropriations bill included $5 million for the development of new molecular imaging probes applies to programs that bring together PET imaging, systems biology and nanotechnology to develop new molecular imaging probes.

[In FY 1998, NIH funding was $13.6 billion, in the final FY 2003 omnibus appropriations bill (H. J. Res. 2) $27.2 billion was included for the National Institutes of Health, finishing the doubling. Because of the work of the Working Group, the FY 2001, FY 2002, and FY 2003 Labor-HHS Appropriations bills contained unprecedented language directing the NIH to fully fund the Parkinson's Disease Research Agenda. Although NIH has increased Parkinson’s research funding, they have not meet the full funding levels detailed in the five year agenda. For instance, in FY 2002, NIH’s Parkinson’s research spending was $198.8 million, a $43 million increase over FY 2000, but not full funding. Additionally, the Working Group secured a funding increase for the Department of Defense Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Research Program. The FY 2003 Defense Appropriations bill contained $21.25 million in funding for the program, a 20% increase over FY 2002. [H.R. 3061 signed into law Public Law 107-116 on January 10, 2002.]

Back to top

Fighting for Clean Water, Protecting New York’s Watershed

(H.R. 2217, 107th Congress) -- Marking a win for protecting the beauty of New York, the Fiscal Year 2002 Interior Appropriations Act providing $65,000,000 for the Forest Legacy Program. Congresswoman Maloney, along with Congressman Jack Quinn (R-NY), worked to include two projects for funding under the program. With enactment of the bill, the Adirondacks Lake project and the New York Watershed project both received full funding. The $2 million designated for the Adirondack Lakes region of upstate New York helps protect these lands from development through sustainable management guidelines. These guidelines help to ensure that the region will continue to provide much needed raw materials for today’s marketplace and into the future. With the threat of bioterrorism on the rise, the $500,000 dollars designated in the Forest Legacy Program for the New York City watershed project is one important component in the effort to protect New York City’s drinking water. [Public Law 107-63, signed December 5, 2001.]

Counting Citizens Abroa

d ( H.AMDT.172 to H.R.2500, the FY02 Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill, 107th Congress) -- Allocated $2.5 million for the Census Bureau to begin planning to include private citizens living abroad in the 2010 decennial census. Currently, there are between three and six million private American citizens living abroad who pay U.S. taxes and are eligible to vote, but were not counted in the 2000 census (which counted only military personnel and their families, federal employees and contract employees living overseas). These U.S. citizens provide vital services by facilitating the growth of American companies abroad, and they are agents who further our national interests worldwide. This funding will help make sure they're counted in the next census. [Public Law 107-77, signed November 28, 2001]

Back to top

9/11 RECOVERY EFFORT

Representative Maloney has been working to get the federal aid New York was promised after the 9/11 tragedy. Unfortunately, years later, the status of federal aid pledged to help New York's recovery remains uncertain. Overall costs and losses from the disaster are estimated above $80 billion, but even the President's initial pledge of $20 billion is far from being reached. After months of effort, important additional funding was delivered, including $90 million to monitor the health of rescue workers, $100 million for school costs related to the disaster, $33 million more for mental health funds for New York City’s school children and millions more in aid that resulted from FEMA reforms in housing and disaster victim assistance programs.

Even with these victories, New York City and state lost an estimated $8.8 billion in tax revenues, and close to $2 billion in tax breaks for downtown development projects may never be realized-and unjustified taxation on some recovery aid is leading to more than $250 million in 9/11 aid being sent back to Washington.

In response to the many recovery issues New York is facing, Representative Maloney has introduced the following bills:

The 9/11 Commission Report Implementation Act

 (H.R. 5040, 108th Congress) Congresswoman Maloney was the lead Democrat on legislation to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Report. This legislation was the House companion to legislation introduced in the Senate by Senators McCain and Lieberman and served as the bases for the Democratic substitute during the debate of the House bill. Working with Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT), she formed the 9/11 Commission Caucus and pushed for bipartisan legislation to pass the House. The House and Senate are currently in conference negotiations to work out the differences between the two separate bills that have been passed. While the bills are in conference, Congresswoman Maloney, as co-chair of the 9/11 Commission Caucus, continues to work in a bipartisan manner with the 9/11 Commission Members and the 9/11 Family Steering Committee to produce a bill for the President to sign that is true to the core recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

Back to top

Following the Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission to Reorganize Congress

 - Representative Maloney (lead sponsor), worked in a bipartisan manner with Representative Christopher Shays (R-CT) to introduce a resolution, H.Res. 837, that would assist in addressing the serious security threats that face our nation by following the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission to reorganize Congress to provide more effective oversight of our nation's intelligence and homeland security efforts. The proposed rules change would: 1. Create a Permanent standing Committee on Homeland Security; 2. Create a permanent standing Committee on Intelligence; 3. Create a 14th Appropriations subcommittee on Intelligence. H.Res. 837 acknowledges and fixes the problems that must be addressed by the Legislative Branch to fully address the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

9/11 Can You Hear Me Now Act

 (H.R. 4386, 108th Congress) -- Bill to require the Department of Homeland Security to work with local authorities to establish a communications system for the city that would be integrated with all current and developing emergency communications systems for the region and that would work in all areas of the city during any kind of emergency anticipated by disaster response experts. [Introduced May 18, 2004]

Remember 9/11 Health Act

 (H.R. 4059, 108th Congress) -- Bill to provide for the long-term health monitoring, care, research and coordination of the federal government’s response to the health effects of the terrorist attacks of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. [Introduced March 30, 2004]

“Whatever it Takes’ to Rebuild New York Act of 2003

 (H.R. 1542, 108th Congress) -- Bill to provide NY city and state $8.8 billion in lost tax revenues as a direct result of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Removes a $5 million cap on such loans. [Introduced April 1, 2003.]

Back to top

Working to Secure Funding for Rescue Workers’ Health Screening

 (107th Congress, 108th Congress) -- Brought attention to the lack of funding for 9/11 emergency responders’ medical screening through multiple press events and reports. [Funding for medical attention was included in H.J.RES 2, the omnibus FY03 appropriations bill approved in the 108th Congress on February 20, 2003]

September 11th Assistance Tax Clarification Act

 - (H.R. 5624, 107th Congress, H.R. 581, 108th Congress) -- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income amounts paid to any person as assistance on account of any property or business damaged by, and for economic revitalization directly related to, the terrorist attacks on the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001. [Introduced October 10, 2002.]

Improving Federal Disaster Response

 (H.R. 5005, 107th Congress) -- To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to recognize the federal government’s need to have the authority and flexibility to respond to large scale terrorist attacks and eliminate delays caused by procedural hurdles. [Introduced in Government Reform Committee on July 11, 2002 and passed unanimously but was removed in the final version of the bill.]

Achieving Aid for NYU and Pace University

 (107th Congress) - $9 million in federal aid for New York University and approximately $1 million for Pace University for costs related to the terrorist attacks. [FEMA awarded funds, May 15, 2002.]

Post-9/11 Recognition of New York Public Schools

 (H.RES. 325, 107th Congress) -- A resolution commending the professionalism and courage of the New York public school community during and after the events of September 11, 2001 and supporting Federal assistance to the school system. Maloney also lead a larger effort by the New York State Delegation to achieve full disaster recovery relief for the school system. [Introduced December 19, 2001]

Back to top

2001 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recover From and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States

 (H.R. 2888, 107th Congress) -- A bill authorizing $20 billion in aid to the New York following the attacks of 9/11. Prior to final approval of all of the promised funds, Congresswoman Maloney worked with her colleagues authoring several letters to the Bush Administration calling for the expeditious allocation of the funds pledged to the region. During this time, Congresswoman Maloney planned and implemented numerous public actions detailing immediate needs the city faced and the extent of losses incurred by New York businesses and residents. [Signed September 18, 2001 and President awarded funds March 2002.]

Post-9/11 Commendation of New Yorkers and Ground Zero Workers

 (H.RES. 243, 107th Congress) -- A resolution honoring New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, the emergency responders and law enforcement officers, and the residents of New York, New York, for their valiant efforts in responding to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. [Introduced October 21, 2001.]

Successful Campaign to Reform Emergency Aid Programs for Individual New Yorkers After 9/11

 (107th Congress) - Pushed to reform Mortgage and Rental Assistance program and FEMA’s Individual and Family Grants program to provide more New Yorkers with post-9/11 aid.

Back to top