Bush requests $27 billion for homeland security, N.Y. assistance

President Bush Thursday sent to Congress a $27 billion supplemental spending bill--a diverse wish-list including requests for additional funds for homeland security, the war overseas, helping New York rebound from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and foreign aid.

"Today I've sent up an emergency request to United States Congress of $27 billion, $5 billion of which will be spent on our airports and our borders," Bush said during a speech in El Paso, Texas.

According to administration officials, the request includes $14 billion for defense, $5.5 billion for New York, $5.3 billion for homeland security, $1.6 billion for international aid, and $750 million for dislocated workers.

Several other items in the package would be offset by spending cuts. These are: $142 million for veterans health care, $75 million for the Women, Infants and Children program, and $20 million to pay for new enforcement personnel at the Securities and Exchange Commission.