New York City and the state of New York have received over $1.2 billion in homeland security funding since the 9/11 attacks, but the Bush administration's recent proposal to alter next year's funding levels is severely flawed. The administration and I differ greatly on this issue. This proposed cut affects the wrong region at precisely the wrong time.

Like Washington, DC, New York City will always remain a bull's-eye for potential attacks.

In addition, considering that New York state also holds hundreds of miles of the United States' northern border, it is a potential location for weapons and ammunition smuggling and terrorist entry. The recent plot against the Canadian Parliament and Prime Minister is evidence that our northern neighbor is not exempt from international terrorism.

In a rather rare display of bipartisanship in such a politically charged election year, New York's Congressional delegation has stood firmly against these proposed cuts and lobbied to reinstate previous levels of funding.

But it's also important to remember that millions of additional homeland security-based funds have flowed into our community in recent years.

For instance, this past year 25 local fire departments in New York's 25th Congressional District split over $2.5 million in DHS Assistance to Fire Fighters funding, with a mean award of $85,980 per department. And I've used my senior position on the House Appropriations Committee to bring home federal funds to construct an off-site emergency preparedness center for University Hospital to address bioterrorism threats, create a Regional Anti-Terrorism Training Center for Central New York, and purchase new law enforcement technologies for area police agencies.

As New York's appropriations point person in Congress after the 9/11 attacks, I was able to leverage my chairmanship of the House Appropriations Subcommittee with responsibility over FEMA, EPA and HUD to ensure that billions of dollars flowed into New York City and New York state to address security needs and aid in the cleanup and recovery.

Despite all these resources, the fact remains that threats to New York City and our state are still very real today.

I intend to do all I can in coming months to ensure the right thing for New York is done.