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Bush Releases $5.1 Billion for Spending
Friday, September 21, 2001 (6:09 PM ET)
By Alan Fram / Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON -- AP
President Bush (news -- web sites) has decided to use $5.1 billion to increase military spending, put federal marshals on some airline flights and give rewards for information about terrorists -- the government's initial round of spending to counter last week's attacks.

The money, which Bush released on Friday, is the first installment of the $40 billion emergency package Congress enacted last week after the Sept. 11 disasters in New York and Washington.

Half the money would go to the Defense Department, which would use it to improve intelligence, repair the damaged Pentagon (news -- web sites) and other activities.

The rest would be divided among about 20 Cabinet level departments and agencies, as well as Congress and the judicial branch. Included is $2.5 million for the White House, Capitol and the Supreme Court to put a substance on their windows that is supposed to prevent them from shattering in an explosion.

“It shows once again that America is there for New York,” said Sen. Charles Schumer (news -- bio -- voting record), D-N.Y., who estimated that $2 billion of the $5.1 billion would be for his battered home state.
(More: AP News Source)

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