DHS Funding Bill Passes House, Faces Opposition in Senate, White House
Despite a threatened Presidential veto, the House of Representatives approved a $46 billion budget bill (HR-5855) June 7 for the Homeland Security Department on a vote of 234-182. The budget bill includes increases in funding for border and immigration enforcement, but includes a slight cut for the Transportation Security Administration. The bill now goes to the Senate, where Democratic leaders have indicated opposition to it.
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HR-5855, as passed, would appropriate about $39.1 billion in discretionary spending for DHS for FY 2013, a cut of $393.5 million (about 1 percent) below the amount requested and a cut of $483.755 million (1.2 percent) from FY 2012.
President Barack Obama has threatened to veto the bill over budget cuts to the Federal Air Marshals Service, data center consolidation, establishment of a new headquarters, and other programs (see statement of administration policy).
The bill is largely unchanged from the one that cleared committee in May (see ITT's Online Archives 12052331). Total funding for Customs and Border Protection would be $10.2 billion, $77 million above the President’s request and $9.4 million above last year’s level. It would pay for 21,370 Border Patrol agents, essentially the same level as in FY 2010, plus 21,186 CBP officers working at the ports of entry.
Specific funding provisions include:
- $8,366,024,000 for border security, immigration, customs, agricultural inspections and regulatory activities related to plant and animal imports, and transportation of unaccompanied minor aliens. It includes purchase and lease of up to 7,500 vehicles, and contracting with individuals for personal services abroad. Of the amount, $3,274,000 would come from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund.
- $700,242,000 for CBP automated systems, of which at least $138,794,000 would be for the development of the Automated Commercial Environment.
- $252,567,000 to plan, acquire, construct, renovate, equip, furnish, operate, manage, and maintain buildings, facilities, and related infrastructure necessary for customs, immigration, and border security.
- $5,041,230,000 for the Transportation Security Administration for civil aviation security services.
- $126,418,000 to the Transportation Security Administration for surface transportation security activities.
- $192,424,000 to the Office of Transportation Threat Assessment and Credentialing.