FY-06 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill Clears House
FY-06 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL CLEARS HOUSE
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
WASHINGTON - Congressman Ken Calvert voted in support of H.R. 2360, the FY-06 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, which passed by a roll call vote of 424 to 1 on Tuesday evening.
"I'm proud to support this bill which provides the funding to support our most important security related programs and those who are on the front lines maintaining our safety. Appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security put Americans' tax dollars to work where they are needed most. I'm especially pleased with the provisions that enhance identification security and revitalize our immigration enforcement programs," said Calvert.
H.R. 2360 provides $30.85 billion for operations and activities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in FY 2006. The bill provides $19.4 billion for border protection, immigration enforcement, and related activities, an increase of $1.9 billion over fiscal year 2005 enacted levels and $285 million over the President's request. These funds support next generation technology to screen high-risk cargo coming through our land and seaports; an expansion of cargo inspection at foreign ports; improvements to supply chain security; maritime security, and support a robust revitalization of immigration enforcement efforts both along our borders and within the interior of the nation. Specific funding includes:
* $1.61 billion for border security and control, providing for an additional 1,000 Border Patrol Agents; when combined with the pending FY05 Supplemental, 1,500 new Border Patrol agents will be hired in FY06.
* $3.2 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, providing for an additional 150 criminal investigators and 200 Immigration Enforcement Agents; when combined with the pending FY05 Supplemental, 568 new ICE agents and officers will be hired in FY06.
* $61 million for border security technology, including surveillance and unmanned aerial vehicles.
* $489 million for Air and Marine Operations for border and airspace security.
* $20 million for replacement Border Patrol aircraft.
* $188 million for vehicle and cargo inspection technologies.
* $45 million for increased intelligence and targeting for cargo and passengers.
* $138.8 million for the Container Security Initiative, expanding this program to a total of 48 foreign ports.
* $54.3 million for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.
* $2.6 billion for the Coast Guard's homeland security missions.
* $4 million to continue and expand an immigration security pilot project at foreign airports.
* $690 million for custody management, including an additional 1,920 detention beds; when combined with the pending FY05 Supplemental, 3,870 detention beds will be added by the end of FY06.
* $166 million for immigration case management.
* $119 million for Fugitive Operations teams, including an additional three teams.
* $88 million for the Institutional Removal Program, including an additional 100 agents.
* $43 million for Alternatives to Detention, including an additional 49 positions.
* $211 million for transportation and removal of undocumented aliens.
Supporting State and Local First Responders
The bill provides $3.6 billion for first responders, including grants to high threat areas, firefighters, and emergency management. Since September 11th, 2001, $32.4 billion has been provided to first responders - including terrorism prevention and preparedness, general law enforcement, firefighter assistance, airport security, seaport security, and public health preparedness. The bill also recognizes that no community is immune from terrorism and achieves a balance between basic formula grants, used by states and localities to achieve a minimum level of preparedness, and funds for high-risk urban areas. Specific funding levels include:
* $1.215 billion for high-density urban areas, including $850 million for urban area grants, $150 million for rail security, $150 million for port security, and $65 million for other infrastructure protection.
* $750 million for basic formula grants.
* $600 million for firefighter grants.
* $400 million for State and local law enforcement terrorism prevention grants.
* $180 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants.
* $200 million for First Responder training.
* No less than 10 percent of basic formula grants ($750 million) and urban area grants ($850 million) must be provided to Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers.
Enhancing Transportation Security
The bill continues efforts to enhance security for all modes of transportation, including ports, rails, and aviation, with a focus on research and development of next generation technologies to inspect baggage, passengers and cargo. In total, the bill provides $6.4 billion - partially offset by fees - for TSA and Federal Air Marshals (FAMs), including:
* $2.5 billion for passenger and baggage screeners.
* $85 million for the training of airport screeners.
* $468 million to procure, install, maintain and integrate in-line explosive detection systems.
* $983 million for aviation direction and enforcement activities.
* $100 million for air cargo security, including 100 new inspectors, funding to fast track pending air cargo regulations; and research and development of next generation technologies.
* $8 million for rail security inspectors and explosive detection canines.
* $5 million for trucking security and $4 million for HAZMAT truck tracking.
* $699 million for FAMs, ensuring mission coverage on both domestic and international flights, including $10 million for the continued development and implementation of secure communications technology.
Using Science and Technology to Protect our Nation
The bill provides $1.34 billion for research, development, and deployment of innovative technologies, including those proposed by universities, national laboratories, not-for-profit organizations, and private companies. Funds will be used to test technologies, determine their applicability to homeland security requirements, and transition these technologies for use by federal, State and local officials. Specifically, the bill includes:
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$651 million to develop radiological, nuclear, chemical, biological, and high explosives
* Countermeasures.
* $30 million for rapid prototyping of homeland security technologies.
* $10 million to accelerate deployment of new homeland security technologies.
* $110 million for research, development, and testing of antimissile devices for commercial aircraft.
* $30 million for container security research.
* $128 million is recommended to be transferred from other DHS agencies as part of a Department wide research and development consolidation.
* $127 to start-up the new Domestic Nuclear Detection Office and its help coordinate global nuclear detection and tracking.
* $64 million for university-based centers of excellence.
Protecting the Nation's Critical Infrastructure
The bill enhances the Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection (IAIP) Directorate's ongoing work to protect our critical infrastructure and key assets, providing a total of $861.4 million in fiscal year 2005. The bill supports ongoing efforts to enhance the current inventory of our nation's critical infrastructures; develop of secure communications systems with federal, State and local entities; and continue efforts to work with the private sector to implement protective measures around this infrastructure. The bill includes:
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$139.4 for critical infrastructure identification and evaluation, and outreach and partnerships with industry.
* $74.3 million for infrastructure vulnerability and risk assessment.
* $91.4 million for protective actions.
* $119 million to identify and characterize potential bio-terrorist attacks, including $109 million for Science and Technology's BioWatch program.
* $43.6 million for U.S. Secret Service's Electronic Crimes Task Forces (ECTFs), including an additional 50 FTEs devoted to combating electronic crime and identity theft.
* $73.3 million for cyber-security.
* $56.1 million for the Homeland Security Operations Center, enhancing secure communications with State and local governments.
Supporting Traditional Missions such as Immigration Services, Disaster Mitigation and Relief, Drug Interdiction, Law Enforcement, Maritime Safety and Security, and Trade
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$2.9 billion for traditional Coast Guard operating activities, including maritime safety, drug interdiction, and fisheries, environmental, and humanitarian missions.
* $1.2 billion for the U.S. Secret Service.
* $2.0 billion for Disaster Relief.
* $20 million to enforce laws related to forced child labor, intellectual property rights, and textile transshipment.
* $7.6 million to support investigations related to missing and exploited children; d
* $1.85 billion for citizenship and immigration services, including $1.7 billion in fee supported activities.
Other Provisions
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Requires DHS to submit a comprehensive immigration enforcement strategy that reduces the number of undocumented aliens by 10 percent per year; requires DHS and ICE to develop a national detention plan for undocumented aliens; and requires ICE to expand the use of Immigration Enforcement Agents;
* Requires the development and implementation of improved air cargo security standards and protocols, as well as the use of EDS equipment to screen air cargo at airports;
* Requires the Office of Domestic Preparedness to submit the final National Preparedness Goal no later than October 1, 2005, establishing nationwide preparedness standards to make 2006 grant allocations based on these goals;
* Requires the Office of the Chief Information Officer to develop and report on its enterprise architecture and other strategic planning activities and specifically directs USCIS to submit an IT transformation plan;
* Requires DHS to implement a security plan to permit general aviation aircraft to land and take off at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport within 9 0 days of enactment of this Act
* Prohibits the use of funds that inhibit or delay the DHS Privacy Officer from communicating with Congress.
* Maintains a cap of 45,000 for TSA passenger screeners.
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