FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2001

SCHUMER, LOWEY, CROWLEY: NY ELIGIBLE FOR $6 MILLION IN FEDERAL WEST NILE FUNDS

New York's Share Represents Over A Third Of Total FY01 West Nile Money Distributed To States To Prepare for Next Summer's Outbreak

US Senator Charles E. Schumer and US Representatives Nita Lowey and Joseph Crowley today announced that New York will be eligible for up to $6 million in West Nile funding recently allocated to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill. The funding - which represents over a third of all West Nile money CDC is distributing this year - will be used to help states prepare for West Nile containment efforts next summer.

"This funding will arm New York authorities with the resources they need to get ready for next summer's outbreak of this deadly disease," said Schumer. "With West Nile here to stay, it is critical that the federal government lend a helping hand to states that expect to find themselves battling this disease for the third year in a row."

"This is great news for New York," said Lowey, a member of the Appropriations Committee and the main House sponsor of language targeting funds for New York. "New York has been hard hit by West Nile and deserves a significant portion of the funds. While the State has worked aggressively to keep residents and wildlife from becoming infected with this devastating illness, federal funds have been limited. I am very pleased that we could provide the resources and the CDC responded to concerns about New York getting its fair share."

"The only way to stay on top of the West Nile Virus is through constant
vigilance," said Crowley. "The Federal government must continue to treat the West Nile virus as a public emergency. This funding is critical in helping New York City and other communities pay for their prevention measures."

In December, Schumer, Lowey and Crowley announced that they had secured $25 million in the federal budget to battle West Nile - an increase of $20 million over the President's budget request. CDC will allow states to apply for between $16-17 million of this money, with New York State eligible for $4 million and New York City eligible for $2 million. The remaining $8-9 million will be used by CDC to cover administration and research costs and help the US Geological Survey pay for the testing of birds and other animals.

To receive the funding, New York State and New York City will have to submit a plan to CDC detailing how the money will be used. In this plan, the state and city will outline which localities will receive federal money. New York State has already applied for $100,000 from CDC to pay for West Nile equipment.

CDC established the funding formula to states based on the extent of the outbreak within a particular state and its localities. Criteria for receipt of the funding included when the disease was first detected, the occurrence of human illness, geographic extent of positive findings, the degree of laboratory testing and activities, the intensity of wildlife transmission and employment of control measures, as directed by the appropriations bill.

Schumer, Lowey and Crowley fought for West Nile funding throughout the FY01 federal budget process. After the President requested $5 million to battle the disease, Schumer, Lowey, and Crowley called on Congress in May to allocate additional funds to fight the virus in the Labor-HHS appropriation bills. In September, Schumer led a group of East Coast Senators in a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to call for the inclusion of $30 million in the budget to fight West Nile.

Last year's West Nile outbreak infected humans in New York and New Jersey and turned up in over 2,000 birds, numerous domestic animals, and hundreds of mosquito pools in several East Coast states. New York has already spent over $32 million in 2000 battling West Nile.

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