Congress Approves $5 Million For TSA Transportation Security Lab At FAA Tech Center
Press Release
U.S. Representative Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) today announced Congress has approved the Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act which includes $5 million for the Transportation Security Administration's Transportation Security Lab (TSL). The federal funding will enable the lab to expand its facilities and enhance mission performance. The TSL is located on the FAA Technical Center campus in Pomona and is charged with researching and developing technology to combat a wide-array of threats against the country's transportation system and traveling public.
Additionally, H.R. 2892 also includes $300,000 in federal funding for the creation of an emergency operations center in Brigantine. LoBiondo requested the funding to create a fully functioning and stand alone emergency operations center with adequate backup power generation and the ability to communicate with governmental agencies, as well as other neighboring Emergency Operations Centers if a catastrophic event or incident were to occur. The City of Brigantine petitioned LoBiondo to submit the initial funding request.
"Once operational, the Brigantine emergency operations center would maintain critical public safety and public health capabilities for its residents, including the elderly and disabled who may be unable to evacuate, in the event of natural disaster or other incident," said LoBiondo. "I'm proud to support this worthy investment to protect the residents of Brigantine and I am pleased to have secured federal funding for the center."
"As a barrier island community, it is vitally important we have an emergency operations center established in an area that is safe and secure for our residents," said Brigantine Mayor Phil Guenther. "We will also be able to operate the emergency shelter at this facility. We are deeply appreciative of the Congressman's efforts."
The annual appropriations bill is expected to be approved by the Senate and sent to the President in the coming weeks
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