Media Center - Hinojosa Applauds Passage Of Department Of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill: Congressman Ruben Hinojosa Representing the 15th District of Texas

Washington, DC (October 4, 2006) – Today, President George W. Bush is expected to sign into law H.R. 5441, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill for FY 2007; last week Congressman Hinojosa voted for the measure which the U.S. House of Representatives passed by a vote of 412-6.

Included in the bill is an authorization to the city of Cuero, TX to use funds received under a FEMA unmet needs grant until September 30, 2007 for drainage improvement projects for future flood mitigation.

“Providing the necessary resources and funds for our communities and our country to ensure that we’re safe from terrorist threats must be a priority,” said Hinojosa. “This conference report is a step in the right direction, and I’m especially pleased that the City of Cuero again has access to funds to mitigate any future flooding.”

Also included in the appropriations bill are provisions, such as:

The conference report provides a total of $33.7 billion, including $1.8 billion in emergency spending for border security. This amount is $2.3 billion (7 percent) above FY 2006 and roughly $1.8 billion above the request. The House bill provided $32.08 while the Senate bill provided $31.7 billion.

The conference report directs $1.9 billion (84 percent) of its total increase to border and immigration security activities. Other programs are frozen at current levels or increased by an amount that barely keeps pace with inflation. In addition, disaster relief funding is below FY 2006 levels.

FEMA Restructuring: The report includes 187 pages of authorizing legislation that merges most of the activities of the Preparedness directorate (including state grants) into FEMA and limits the Secretary’s ability to transfer programs and dollars from FEMA.
Border Tunnel Criminalization: The report includes a provision providing that any person constructing or financing the construction of a border crossing tunnel shall be fined and imprisoned for not more than 20 years and that anyone disregarding the construction shall be fined and imprisoned for not more than 10 years.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: The report extends the deadline for the Initiative from January 1, 2008 to June 1, 2009.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

The report provides $8.036 billion for CBP, an amount $1.3 billion (20 percent) above 2006.

The report funds 1,500 additional border patrol agents, an amount equal to the President’s request and instructs that the Northern Border receive at least 10 percent of the increase in staffing. The report also funds 450 additional customs inspectors.

The report includes $1.188 billion for border fencing, infrastructure and technology. This includes $30.5 million for the San Diego fence and $57.8 million for Tucson tactical infrastructure. The report also includes $11 million for additional northern border air operations.

The report provides $362 million for USVISIT.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

In total the report provides $3.958 billion for ICE, above both the House and Senate levels and $475 million or 12 percent above 2006. The conference fully funds the President’s request of 27,500 detention beds, which is 2,700 beds above the 2006 post-supplemental level of 24,800.

The conference provides:

• $1 million for testing the feasibility of establishing high intensity immigration trafficking and smuggling areas in cooperation with state and local officials;
• $2 million for the Legal Orientation Program;
• $30 million for expanded worksite enforcement;
• $30 million for additional vehicles;
• $2 million for the criminal alien program;
• $11.6 million for trade transparency;
• $2.5 million for alternatives to detention;
• $8 million for cyber crimes;
• $15 million for automation modernization; and,
• $56.1 million for detention facility improvements.

In total, the report funds state grants and training at $3.39 billion, $45 million (1 percent) above FY2006.

• Basic State Grants are funded at $900 million in total, $40 million or 4 percent below 2006. Language specifies that 80 percent of any grant be made available by the state to local governments within 60 days.
• Urban Area Grants are funded at $770 million, $13 million or 2 percent above 2006.
• Fire grants are funded at $662 million, $14 million (2 percent) above 2006; this includes $115 million for SAFER Act staffing.
• Emergency management performance grants are funded in conference at $200 million, $17 million or 9 percent above 2006.

The report provides $2.51 billion for FEMA, an amount $455 million below the request and $193 million below FY 2006. The House and Senate bills recommended $2.656 and $2.663 respectively.

The conference mark provides:

• $30 million for FEMA to hire 250 permanent disaster staff;
• $25 million for urban search and rescue teams;
• $30 million for the National Incident Management System;
• $1.5 billion for disaster relief; and,
• $5 million for a demonstration program on logistics partnerships.