WASHINGTON, March 7 (UPI) -- Nearly six months after the Sept. 11 attacks leveled the World Trade Center twin towers in New York City, President George W. Bush on Thursday announced $21.4 billion in aid to help rebuild the city.
The New York congressional delegation praised Bush for keeping his promise to the city.
"This is the right thing to do. It's the absolute right position for our government to take. It is essential that New York City come back and come back strong for the good of the entire nation," said Bush.
Bush stood in the White House Rose Garden with members of the New York delegation, including Republican Gov. George Pataki, Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer, Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., and Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg, among others. With the six-month anniversary of the attacks four days away, they told Bush they appreciated him keeping his promise to the city.
It was on Sept. 11 that 19 suicide hijackers commandeered four commercial passenger jets. Two airliners were steered into the twin towers of the World Trade Center while a third was flown into the Pentagon outside Washington. A fourth airliner crashed in western Pennsylvania.
"I don't think anyone can deny, not only in the United States but in the free world, that at a time that we were hit with an unimaginable attack by the evil forces that were against America and all that we stand for, we were, indeed, fortunate to have President Bush at the helm at a time when America needed him the most," Rangel said.
Pataki pledged fiscal responsibility.
"Mr. President, let me assure you as well that we will make sure that every nickel is spent appropriately and intelligently to help the people of New York, to help the people of America, and to help make sure that our economy and our quality of life in Lower Manhattan returns as strong as it possibly can," Pataki said.
New York lawmakers sought help from Washington to rebuild the area. The assistance package, subject to congressional approval, fulfills Bush's promise to lawmakers for funds to help rebuild the city after the Sept. 11 attacks that killed some 3,000 people in the New York and Washington.
Bush proposed $5.6 billion for a Liberty Zone tax package to speed redevelopment of lower Manhattan and to modify the state's welfare program to allow use of $100 million in unspent funds. It also provides $2.7 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for repairs the city's damaged transportation infrastructure to "pre-incident" condition.
The city already has received $10.3 billion to cover costs for debris removal, economic development assistance and medical assistance and reimbursements to New York hospitals.
Schumer said he had doubts that Bush would approve the funding, but admitted his misgivings were quelled during a meeting shortly after the attacks.
"Honestly, Mr. President, I expected you to offer us $5 billion or say you'd get back to us or ask for a memo. Instead, the president looked us right in the eye. There were tears in his eyes, tears in mine -- and he said, 'New York needs help?' And I said, 'Yes, Mr. President.' And without hesitation, without even flinching, he said, 'You got it.'"
Clinton agreed.
"Well, I don't write newspaper headlines, which should be obvious to everyone, but maybe tomorrow's headline will be, 'Bush to New York: Help is on the way,'" said Clinton. She said Congress is considering holding a joint session of Congress and invited Bush to address lawmakers.
