Secretary Napolitano Announces $7.7 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Airport Surveillanc

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced approximately $7.7 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for the installation of new closed circuit television systems at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Ronald Reagan Washington National, Spokane International, Gerald R. Ford International and Boise, Idaho airports.

“State-of-the-art surveillance technology provides another critical layer of security at our airports,” said Secretary Napolitano. “These projects will inject critical Recovery Act dollars into our local economies and create sophisticated security networks designed to detect threats and aid our emergency response efforts.”

Closed circuit surveillance systems are an integral part of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and airport security operations, providing a high level of threat detection and enhancing emergency response and risk mitigation. CCTV technology is used at hundreds of airports across the country, and TSA has collaborated individually with 62 airports nationwide to expand these sophisticated and integrated security networks to increase safety for airport facilities and employees.

To date, Secretary Napolitano has announced four projects funded by ARRA for new inline baggage handling systems that will improve airport security, travel efficiency and create jobs—totaling $62 million for technology upgrades at Orlando International, Jackson Hole, Philadelphia International and San Francisco International airports.

In awarding ARRA funds, DHS prioritizes shovel-ready projects that infuse resources into local economies quickly while meeting critical security needs. DHS has obligated more than 20 percent of its ARRA funds to date, and is on track to obligate more than 50 percent by the end of September 2009.

ARRA, signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 19, committed more than $3 billion for homeland security projects through DHS and the General Services Administration (GSA). Of the $1 billion allocated to TSA for aviation security projects, $700 million is dedicated to screening checked baggage and $300 million is allocated for checkpoint explosives detection technology.

To learn more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects, visit www.dhs.gov/recovery.