WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Carl Levin (D-MI) announced today that Michigan has been awarded $2,702,474 from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). With this funding, Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International and Gerald R. Ford International airports are expected to receive explosive detection systems and advance technology X-ray units for checked baggage screening efforts.

“Making sure Michigan travelers are safe is always first priority,” Stabenow said. “These machines will not only help protect passengers traveling through Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, but it will help accelerate security lines and ease air travel in Michigan.”

“This federal funding will help improve air travel and keep Michigan passengers safe,” said Levin. “I am hopeful this funding will help Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International and Ford International airports defray the cost of safety upgrades when budgets are tight.”

These awards are among the first $50 million made available nationwide through TSA. The department will purchase a total of 123 reduced-size explosive detection systems and 44 advanced technology X-ray units from Rapiscan Systems to be distributed to airports across the country.

For more information, please visit www.dhs.gov/recovery.

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