Durbin Announces $3.8 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Illinois Airport Security
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a $3,860,677.60 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to streamline baggage screening and enhance security capabilities at Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport in Springfield and Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The funding distribution will be determined at a later date based on plans to be submitted by each airport.
“Today’s funding will strengthen security at our nation’s airports by bringing in new equipment to help improve the safety and efficiency of travelling,” said Durbin. “Expanding the use of this new technology will create jobs in Chicago, Springfield and destinations around the country.”
Today’s funding is part of a DHS announcement of $50 million in Recovery Act funding nationwide for explosive detection systems and advanced technology X-ray units. These awards represent the first dollars spent out of a total of $1 billion made available by ARRA for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).