Schumer, Clinton Secure $8.8 Million For Border Security At Alexandria Bay Crossing

US Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton announced today that Congress passed $8,884,000 for the New York Alexandria Bay Border Crossing. The funds are listed in the Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations section of the Fiscal Year 2005 Omnibus Appropriations bill. The bill now heads to the President for his signature. Massena's border station was also given $x in federal funds.

"The best and easiest way to beef up security is to have all of the booths and stations at our customs facilities fully funded," said Schumer. "Today's announcement is a great step but we still have more to do to bring us to the place we need to be. We are going to continue to work to make sure that New York's crossings get their fair share of federal funding."

"For too long, northern border security has received too little support when it comes to federal resources. It is critical that we devote the personnel and technology necessary to ensure our security while easing the flow of goods and people across the border," Senator Clinton said. "I am so pleased that we have secured these funds because I believe we must do everything we can in Congress to help New York upgrade and secure our Northern border security systems."

The funds will be used to reconfigure and improve the existing border station. The improvements will focus on security enhancements for the Customs and Border Protection office and agents at the Alexandria Bay border crossing. In addition, the station's new configuration will improve commerce in the North Country by reducing wait times and redundancies that exist due to the physical limitations of the current structure.