Replies

"Exactly! And once the elections are over, Congress will revert to listening to their REAL constituents -- Big Business"

GOP House *already* litened to the base when they passed HR4437.

" -- and send Jorge Bush an amnesty/guest worker bill he will be much more happy to sign than this fence bill."

It's George.
The Hastert House will send a more conservative bill,
the Pelosi House will send a liberal bill.

The sourpusses are just *soo-o-o-o-o-o* negative, it's like your begging to lose on this issue rather than compromise and get most of what you want.

"Oh, yeah, they'll stifle any funding for the 700 miles of fence already approved, too!"

Wrong! $1.2 billion was ALREADY appropriated in the recent Homeland Security dept appropriations.

applebutter, which I would refer to as "paddedhelmet" just tried these same type postings on another thread. He or she is either a troll or just a malcontent, that has no desire for the GOP to maintain congress.

The bill signed today receives what funding it has gotten via the 2007 Homeland Security Approiations Bill signed a fews ago.

September 25, 2006		Press Contacts: Jenny Manley (202) 224-6404
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE		Erin Rath (202) 224-3324
Conferees Approve FY 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON – Today the Senate and House of Representatives conferees approved the FY 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The bill includes $34.8 billion in discretionary spending for the Department of Homeland Security. This is $2.7 billion more than the President’s fiscal year 2007 discretionary spending request.

Departmental Management and Operations – A total of $1,010,971,000 is recommended to continue the operations of the Office of the Secretary, Office of the Under Secretary for Management, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Analysis and Operations, Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, and Office of Inspector General. The funding for Departmental Management and Operations in FY06 was $898,317,000, excluding emergency supplemental appropriations.

Security, Enforcement and Investigations:

US Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US VISIT) – A total of $362,494,000 is recommended to continue the development of the US VISIT system. US VISIT received funding of $336,600,000 in the FY06 bill.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection – A total of $8,036,356,000 is recommended ($1,462,474,000 more than the President’s request) for securing the Nation’s borders, including:

$2,239,586,000 for border staffing between the ports of entry; including 1,500 new Border Patrol agents;
$139,312,000 for the Container Security Initiative;
$1,187,565,000 for fencing, infrastructure and technology;
$777,983,000 for air and marine operations, including $70,000,000 for P-3 service life extensions and mission hours, $64,000,000 for medium lift helicopters; $58,000,000 multi-role aircraft; $20,000,000 for unmanned aerial vehicles, and $20,000,000 for light helicopters;
$451,440,000 for automation modernization; and
$232,978,000 for facilities construction along the border.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – A total of $3,958,281,000 ($29,709,000 more than the President’s request) is recommended for investigating and enforcing immigration and customs laws, including:

$1,441,289,000 for investigations and intelligence;
$1,984,345,000 for detention and removals;
$15,000,000 for automation modernization; and
$56,281,000 for infrastructure improvements at detention facilities.

Transportation Security Administration – A total of $6,374,392,000 (excluding $2,420,000,000 of aviation security offsetting collections) is recommended for securing aviation transportation, including:

$2,618,800,000 for passenger and baggage screener workforce;
$173,366,000 for checkpoint support;
$141,400,000 for the procurement of explosive detection and trace systems, of which no less than $47,000,000 is for the procurement and deployment of next generation explosive detection systems, including in-line systems;
$138,000,000 for installation of explosive detection and trace systems;
$55,000,000 for air cargo security;
$13,200,000 for the safety and security of the nation’s railways;
$99,700,000 for transportation threat assessment and credentialing (an additional $76,101,000 is provided through fee funded programs);
$714,294,000 for the Federal Air Marshals;
The Committee does not include a Presidential legislative proposal to generate an estimated $1,230,000,000 (CBO) in passenger aviation security offsetting collections.

United States Coast Guard – A total of $8,394,951,000, excluding rescissions, is provided, including:

$5,477,657,000 for operating expenses;
$122,448,000 for Reserve training;
$1,408,939,000 for acquisition, construction, and improvements, excluding rescissions, to fund new assets and maintain old assets and facilities. This amount includes $1,144,566,000, excluding rescissions, for the Deepwater recapitalization project;
$16,000,000 for alteration of bridges. The President did not request funding for this account;
$17,000,000 for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation;
$1,063,323,000, as requested in the budget, for retired pay;
$278,704,000 for the Health Care Fund (permanent indefinite appropriations).

United States Secret Service – A total of $1,276,658,000 is recommended for the operations of the United States Secret Service. This funding includes $6,000,000 for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and $2,366,000 for the Service’s forensic support costs associated with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Preparedness and Recovery:

Under Secretary for Preparedness – A total of $30,572,000 is recommended for the Under Secretary for Preparedness and $46,849,000 for the U.S. Fire Administration.

Office of Grants and Training – A total of $3,393,000,000 is recommended for first responder grants and assistance, including:

$900,000,000 for state and local assistance grants and law enforcement terrorism prevention grants;
$770,000,000 for Urban Area Security Initiative grants;
$210,000,000 for port security grants;
$175,000,000 for rail and transit security grants;
$50,000,000 for buffer zone protection plan grants;
$50,000,000 for the commercial equipment direct assistance program (technology transfer);
$145,000,000 for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium;
$30,000,000 for demonstration training grants;
$662,000,000 for firefighter assistance grants, of which $115,000,000 is for SAFER Act grants; and
$200,000,000 for emergency management performance grants.

Infrastructure Protection and Information Security – A total of $542,633,000 to identify and assess threats, map threat information against current vulnerabilities, and take preventative action, including:

$101,100,000 for critical infrastructure outreach and partnerships for data sharing with infrastructure owners and operators;
$69,000,000 to identify critical infrastructure and their vulnerabilities, to assess risks identified , and to reduce vulnerabilities;
$32,043,000 for developing and implementing protective programs for critical infrastructures;
$8,218,000 to rapidly identify and characterize a potential bioterrorist attack; and
$87,000,000 for cyber security activities.

Federal Emergency Management Agency – A total of $2,510,904,000 is recommended for emergency preparedness and response (EP&R) activities, including:

$244,000,000 for Readiness, Mitigation, Response and Recovery to fund all operating expenses for FEMA programs including $25 million for the 28 strategically located Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams;
$282,000,000 for administrative and regional operations, including an additional $30,000,000 for FEMA to hire up to 250 permanent disaster relief employees;
$100,00,000 for the National Pre-Disaster Mitigation Fund;
$33,885,000 for the National Disaster Medical System; and
$1,500,000,000 for Disaster Relief.

Research and Development, Training, Assessment, and Services:

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services – A total of $181,990,000 is recommended for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, for the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) and Employment Eligibility Verification (EEV) programs. When combined with fee collections a total of $1,985,990,000 is available for the processing of immigration benefit applications.

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center – A total of $275,279,000 ($22,000,000 above the President’s budget request) is recommended for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

Science & Technology – A total of $973,289,000 to support basic and applied research, development of prototypes, and procurement of systems to mitigate the effects of weapons of mass destruction including:

$350,200,000 for biological countermeasures;
$60,000,000 to counter chemical warfare agents toxic industrial chemicals;
$85,582,000 for high explosives countermeasures;
$19,451,000 for emergent and prototypical technology;
$50,000,000 for university programs;
$40,000,000 for the counter-MANPADS program;
$20,000,000 for cyber threat characterization, detection, and origination; and
$27,000,000 for interoperability communications.

Domestic Nuclear Detection Office – A total of $480,000,000 is recommended for domestic nuclear detection, research and development, operations and systems acquisition including:

$40,000,000 for radiation portal monitor research and development;
$272,500,000,000 for transformation research and development; and
$143,000,000 for the acquisition of radiation portal monitors.

New Legislation

Chemical plant security: The conference includes a provision to authorize the Secretary to issue interim risk-based security regulations on high risk chemical facilities.This three year authorization gives the Secretary and facilities flexibility to achieve the appropriate risk reduction, but also provides the Secretary a means to inspect and sanction non-compliant facilities, including the authority to shut down non-compliant facilities until they comply. The provision protects sensitive information, but allows it to be shared it with appropriate authorities.

Tunnel Statute: The conference includes a provision making it unlawful to construct a tunnel under the international land border of the United States.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: The conference includes a provision extending the deadline for implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Reauthorization: The conference includes Title IV which promotes the Administrator of FEMA to be the principal advisor to the President for Emergency Management (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security, promotes the Administrator of FEMA to the level of Deputy Secretary, and restores the nexus between emergency preparedness and response.

The conferees include an additional $1.8 billion in emergency appropriations for border and maritime security, including funding for: Border Patrol Agents; detention beds; fencing, infrastructure, and technology; facilities upgrade; funds for the re-capitalization of the Customs and Border Protection air fleet; and funds for the re-capitalization of Coast Guard ships and aircraft, including the acceleration of the Deepwater program.

Drug Importation: The conference includes a compromise provision to authorize the importation of FDA-approved prescription drugs from Canada. This provision ensures individuals import safe and effective medicine by requiring prescription drugs be brought into the U.S. by the individual.

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