Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011

Floor Speech

* Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1363, the ``Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011,'' a damaging deflection, even as negotiations are ongoing to prevent a government shutdown. H.R. 1363 would reduce funding for the Department of Homeland Security operations by $1.4 billion. The cuts are far from surgical in nature and diminish the Department's flexibility to respond and recover from known and unknown threats.

* Specifically, H.R. 1363 undermines homeland security as follows:

* The bill cuts FEMA first responder grants by 20%. This draconian cut will force cash-strapped State, local and tribal governments to roll back critical preparedness activities and is a slap in the face to the men and women who serve and protect.

* It cuts funding for next generation border security technology by 28%. This will surely set back efforts at achieving operational control of the Southwest border.

* It cuts $57 million in funding for Transportation Security Administration's terrorist watchlist activities. This cut will force TSA to scramble to find the money to undertake this critical screening activity.

* It cuts the Science and Technology Directorate operations by $173 million. This cut will most certainly result in significant delays in the development of new and promising homeland security technologies.

* Rather than slashing the DHS budget to grand-stand or score political points, we should be dedicating new resources to:

* Bolster border security by retaining CBP officers, providing technologies and equipment to front-line officials, and upgrading deteriorating infrastructure at ports of entry;

* Expand maritime security by the furthering of the Coast Guard's recapitalization initiative to replace its aging fleet;

* Enhance cybersecurity by investing and deploying cyber systems to protect critical cyber infrastructure from all cyber threats.

* Strengthen aviation security by making enhancements in the vetting of foreign travelers air-bound for our country, a known threat since well before the Christmas Day plot of 2009.

* Playing fast and loose with homeland security is not the way to put our Nation's fiscal house in order. The Republican draconian approach to budgeting will add insult to injury to the Department of Homeland Security that has already struggled for six months without its budget. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against this damaging deflection of a bill.

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