Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is sponsoring legislation she says will help protect New Yorkers from so-called dirty bombs.
The bill would provide long-term funding for the Securing the Cities initiative, which is designed to help protect the New York metropolitan area against the threat of a radiological or nuclear attack. The program is focused on the threat of dirty bombs, which combine radioactive material with conventional explosives to disperse radioactive material.
Senator Gillibrand's bill is the Senate version of legislation that passed in the House this year to permanently authorize the program. That legislation was sponsored by Long Island Congressman Peter King, a Republican who had considered challenging Gillibrand for her seat this year
