03 October 2001
Fact Sheet: Responding to the September 11 Terrorist Attacks
(White House fact sheet on response to terrorism) (1560)
Following is the text of an October 3 White House fact sheet on
responding to the September 11 terrorist attacks:
(begin Fact Sheet)
White House Fact Sheet
October 3, 2001
Responding to the September 11 Terrorist Attacks
The President and members of Congress from both parties are
implementing a $40 billion emergency response package to help deal
with the tragic events of September 11. This funding will ensure that
the U.S. has the resources to respond to and recover from the attacks
and to protect national security.
Billions of dollars have already been released to assist in New York
and the other impacted areas -- and more funding is on the way.
Examples of the important activities being funded in New York and the
other areas include:
-- Federal Emergency Management Agency, $2 billion: These funds will
support overall emergency assistance in New York and other affected
jurisdictions. This includes costs associated with debris removal and
emergency protective measures, as well as individual and family
assistance, search and rescue, and other disaster assistance efforts.
-- Department of Health and Human Services, $126.2 million: These
funds will provide assistance for the health-related needs of the
disaster-affected areas of the New York metropolitan area, Virginia,
Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
-- Small Business Administration, $100 million: These funds will
support $400 million in low-interest disaster loans for renters,
homeowners, and businesses in designated disaster areas.
-- Department of the Treasury, $48.4 million: These funds will support
the immediate response and recovery needs of the approximately 1,000
Treasury employees who were located in or near the World Trade Center
complex, most of whose offices were destroyed.
-- Department of Labor, $29 million: These amounts will provide
funding for: the Department of Labor's Dislocated Workers program to
provide temporary jobs to assist in clean-up and restoration efforts
in New York; assistance to cover immediate information technology and
other costs of disaster recovery for unemployment insurance claims
processing that need to be relocated; and the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration's monitoring of health and safety at the
disaster sites.
-- Department of the Interior, $3.1 million: These amounts will
provide funding for National Park Service and U.S. Park Police
emergency response costs in New York City and Washington, DC, as well
as increased security patrols in both cities.
-- Commodity Futures Trading Commission, $200,000: The Commodity
Futures Trading Commission's New York office, which was located in the
World Trade Center, will use these funds to purchase computers and
office equipment for its temporary space.
Other Examples of Federal Response Activities
-- Federal Emergency Management Agency: The President has authorized
FEMA to provide an unprecedented level of assistance. For example, the
President has authorized FEMA to pay for 100 percent of public
assistance activities in New York and at the Pentagon (typically,
states pay 25 percent of these costs).
This marks the first time FEMA will cover the entire share of public
assistance expenses. Examples of public assistance activities include
debris removal and repair and restoration of public facilities. In
addition:
-- FEMA has assigned 11 Federal agencies to respond to the attack.
Among the Federal agencies tasked to respond were the Department of
Defense, Army Corps of Engineers, USDA Forest Service, Public Health
Service, and EPA.
-- FEMA has called up 10 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue task forces from
around the Nation to assist in the efforts in New York and Virginia.
Urban Search and Rescue task forces are teams of local emergency
responders that have specialized FEMA training and equipment for
rescuing people in the wake of disasters such as earthquakes and
terrorist events.
Examples of additional FEMA action:
-- The agency has also been working with local governments on the
debris removal efforts.
-- There are currently 3,571 Federal personnel, including 1,596 from
FEMA, working in response to these incidents.
-- Through September 27, FEMA had obligated $240.5 million in New York
and Virginia.
-- FEMA has established Disaster Field Offices in New York City and
Virginia where disaster victims may seek assistance. FEMA also is
operating a toll-free hotline for information and registering disaster
victims.
-- Through September 27, 115,756 tons of debris had been removed from
the WTC site. The estimate for total debris at the WTC is 1.2 million
tons.
-- FEMA is helping city, state, and volunteer organizations organize a
long-term strategy for using the millions of dollars in donated funds.
-- Working with the American Red Cross and other volunteer and Federal
agencies, FEMA has been providing humanitarian and financial
assistance to disaster victims.
Department of Education:
-- Provided $5 million for Rehabilitation Services Administration to
help individuals who suffered disabling physical or mental trauma as a
result of the WTC attacks, as well as funds to help previously
disabled Americans who lost jobs, rehabilitation or other support
structures as a result of the attack.
-- Provided $4 million to New York City schools and $1.7 million to
New York state schools for Project SERV grants that support counseling
and mental health services for affected children.
-- Department of Education also established a loan forgiveness program
to help those who live or work in NY City by providing temporary
relief from student loan payments.
Department of Labor.
-- Labor is working to ensure the safety of the World Trade Center
site for rescue personnel and is providing financial assistance to
dislocated workers.
-- Labor has also released $25 million of dislocated worker assistance
to the State of New York to create temporary jobs to help with cleanup
efforts.
-- About 180 Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) staff
have been deployed to provide around-the-clock safety and health
assistance.
Department of Justice
-- The President signed into law legislation that will speed payment
of $152,000 in compensation to the family of each fallen police
officer, firefighter and rescuer through the Public Safety Officers'
Benefits program.
-- The President also signed into law a victims compensation benefit
program for expeditious payment of compensation to victims or their
relatives for losses suffered as a result of the terrorist attacks.
The program establishes a special claim process in the Department of
Justice.
Health and Human Services (HHS).
-- More than 570 (HHS) personnel are deployed in the New York City
area to augment medical personnel assisting victims and recovery
workers.
-- HHS mental health services personnel and U.S. Public Health Service
reservists are providing services to Federal responders and the
public.
-- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has deployed
personnel to assist the New York City Health Department in patient
care and follow-up needs.
-- HHS has also made available about 100 doctors, nurses and other
health care professionals to staff two treatment stations to provide
round-the-clock medical care to rescue and recovery workers toiling in
the aftermath of the attack in New York City.
Small Business Administration (SBA).
-- Along with FEMA and other Federal agencies, SBA's Disaster Loan
Program has set up Disaster Field Offices in New York and Virginia
where disaster victims may come for assistance.
-- SBA has sent out 5,677 applications for low-interest disaster
loans. SBA has directly assisted 4,598 individuals and businesses with
loan applications and other inquiries.
-- SBA has already approved disaster loans totaling $6,052,900.
-- SBA is also conducting information workshops at different locations
around New York to reach as many disaster victims as possible.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
-- EPA is monitoring the disaster sites to ensure that rescue workers
and the public are not facing dangerous environmental risks.
-- Over 200 EPA personnel have participated in the response to the
terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
-- EPA has been responsible for cleaning and washing down of all
workers, equipment, and resources employed during the rescue stage.
-- The Agency is sampling air, water, and asbestos as well as
conducting radiological and dust monitoring.
-- EPA is also vacuuming and cleaning sidewalks, streets, and
buildings in the World Trade Center area.
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps).
-- Corps structural engineering teams have been surveying buildings
and structures in New York City so the city can assure the safety of
search, rescue and debris-removal operations in and around the
affected areas. The Corps is also developing a debris operations plan
for the New York City. In addition, the Corps is considering potential
improvements to a harbor facility for removing debris by barge.
Internal Revenue Service:
-- The IRS and Treasury have extended deadlines for all taxpayers
affected by the tragedy.
-- IRS released new information to help the public use charitable
organizations and has sped up the processing of requests for
tax-exempt status from new charities formed to assist victims of the
September 11 attacks.
-- IRS created a special e-mail address for businesses to send their
questions to the IRS and get answers about extensions and other relief
stemming from the disasters.
-- IRS issued a release reminding taxpayers who suffered property
losses because of the September 11 terrorist attacks that they may get
a quick tax refund by claiming these losses on an amended return for
2000.
(end White House Fact Sheet)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
