President Bush has signed a funding bill that earmarks $20 million for the trucking industry aspects of homeland security.
The $79 billion fiscal 2003 supplemental appropriations bill provides $6.7 billion more for the Department of Homeland Security.
Bush signed the bill April 16 in part to cover the cost of the war in Iraq. The bill also includes $4.3 billion to offset the costs of Operation Liberty Shield, a comprehensive plan that increases border security and adds stronger transportation measures.
The Pentagon will receive more than $62 billion of the appropriations, and another $2.4 billion will help the airline industry battle terrorism.
The Homeland’s Transportation Security Administration will get $665 million, $20 million of which will go to trucking industry grants to pay for national trucking security and safety initiatives. Another $30 million is for upgrading Operation Safe Commerce’s Maritime and Land Security department.
The bill also included allocations of:
