WASHINGTON– In a strong action to increase and improve the overall national security of our country, the joint House/Senate Conference Committee on the Homeland Security Appropriations Conference Report for Fiscal Year 2007 met tonight and approved the conference report, announced U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.  The $34. 8 billion bill significantly increases funding for the two greatest threats we face: preventing and protecting against weapons of mass destruction and securing U.S. borders.

            “There is no more important investment that we can make for the future of our country and for future generations than ensuring the safety of our nation’s homeland.  The bill we are sending to Congress for final consideration this week makes a significant investment in addressing the major threats facing our nation as we confront a different kind of enemy, one that would not hesitate to use weapons of mass destruction and one that is willing to do whatever it can to sneak through our borders.  We must adapt to the threats of today, and this funding bill gives the Department of Homeland Security the tools they need to best carry out their mission to protect American lives.”

            The bill provides the Department of Homeland Security with $501 million for the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, established to investigate, report and track nuclear and radiological threats in the United States.  The spending measure also continues a glide path to dramatically increasing the numbers of assets protecting U.S. borders, including: adding 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, over 2,700 new detention beds, $1.2 billion for border security fencing, infrastructure and technology, and 526 new Customs and Border Protection officers for ports of entry inspections.  The addition of these new beds and agents fulfills the President’s request for 2,500 Border Patrol agents and 6,700 new detention beds.

            The Coast Guard receives robust resources to carry out their mandate of providing maritime and port security. Of the $8.4 billion provided for the Coast Guard, $3.9 billion is for maritime border security, $2 billion is for port security and $1.1 billion is for Deepwater assets. 

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