New York - C-Minus on Security for Upstate NY

New York - Homeland security measures in upstate New York are severely lacking and federal efforts in the state earn an overall grade of "C-minus," says Sen. Chuck Schumer.

Schumer's report card is based on information from think tanks, the 9/11 commission and other government agencies and includes grades for the entire country.
Chemical plant security received a "D"; mass transit security got an "F"; truck security rated a "C"; first responder grants received an "F"; port and border controls got a "D"; and detection devices scored an "F."

Schumer said he is pushing for mandatory background checks for truck drivers, noting that the millions of trucks that rumble through the Hudson Valley every month pose a potential threat to security.

Schumer is calling for major increases in homeland security funding, which currently has a budget of $32 billion.