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| Homeland & Border Security Funds Signed into Law |
October 18, 2005 |
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| Homeland Security Appropriations Include Funding for Border Agents & Disaster Response
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Heather Wilson today welcomed the announcement that the Homeland Security Appropriations Act that Congress sent to the President earlier this month was signed into law today.
On October 6, the House passed the bill 347-70 with Wilson’s support. The new law will step up border security, add agents in New Mexico and provide $30.8 billion for Homeland Security operations in fiscal year 2006.
"This bill is part of a strategy to secure the border. We need enough border patrol agents to stop illegal immigration and human trafficking. But that is not all we need. We must reform the system so that those caught coming in illegally are returned promptly. That requires changes to laws and greater cooperation from Mexico," Wilson said.
In New Mexico, the bill also includes $20 million for the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center (NISAC), a joint program between Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories.
The addition of 1,500 border agents nationwide in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 is expected to increase the agents in New Mexico’s Deming-Lordsburg corridor by more than 60 percent, which could bring the number of agents in New Mexico from roughly 640 to about a 1,000.
Wilson also highlighted $655 million for firefighter grants, an improvement of $155 million over the President’s initial budget request, as requested by Wilson in the House.
Securing our Border
The bill provides $19.1 billion for border protection, immigration enforcement, and related activities, including: $1.8 billion for border security, funding an additional 1,000 Border Patrol Agents that, with the FY05 supplemental appropriations, will allow a total of 1,500 new agents; $41 million for border security technology; $562 million for Air and Marine Operations for border and airspace security; $139 million for the Container Security Initiative, supporting efforts in 48 foreign ports; $21 million to maintain security and facilitate travel on our land borders; and $40 million for implementation of the REAL ID Act. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will receive a 4 percent increase over the 2005 funding level.
Tools and Training for our First Responders
The bill supports our first responders with $3.3 billion, including grants to protect high-risk areas, bringing the total for first responders since Sept. 11, 2001, to $32.1 billion. The bill provides $1.2 billion for high –threat, high density urban areas; $655 million for firefighter grants; $400 million for State and local law enforcement terrorism prevention grants; and $185 million for emergency Management Performance Grants.
Disaster Mitigation and Relief
The bill also supports federal response capabilities as well as increased planning and coordination with the states. The bill includes: $1.8 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund; $20 million for Urban Search and Rescue Teams; $20 million for FEMA catastrophe planning; and $200 million for the Flood Map Modernization Program. The bill also requires the DHS to report on the status of catastrophe planning in all 50 states.
Transportation Security
The bill supports airline and other transportation security at $6.3 billion, with fee offsets, including: $2.5 billion for passenger and baggage screeners; $88 million for training airport screeners; $443 million for explosive detection systems; $85 million for air cargo security; $8 million for rail security inspectors and bomb detecting dogs; $5 million for trucking security and $4 million for HAZMAT truck tracking; and $686 million for Federal Air Marshals.
Science and Technology
The bill supports research, development, and deployment of innovative technologies, through universities, national laboratories, not-for-profit organizations, and private companies at $1.5 billion including: $538 million to develop radiological, nuclear, chemical, biological, and high explosives countermeasures; $35 million for rapid prototyping of homeland security technologies; and $318 million to start up the new Domestic Nuclear Detection Office and help coordinate global nuclear detection and tracking.
Infrastructure Protection
The bill includes $625M to help protect our national critical infrastructure including: $180 million for critical infrastructure identification and evaluation, and outreach partnerships with industry; $14 million to identify and characterize potential bio-terrorist attacks; $40 million for the Secret Service’s Electronic Crimes Task Forces to combat electronic crime and identity theft; $93 million for cyber-security; and $255 million for Analysis and Operations, including to enhance secure communications with State and local governments. The also provides $20 million for the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center (NISAC), a joint program between Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories.
Law Enforcement, Coast Guard and Trade Provisions
The bill includes $2.6 billion for Coast Guard operating activities, including maritime safety, drug interdiction, and fisheries, environmental, and humanitarian missions; $1.2 billion for the U.S. Secret Service; and $7.9 million to support investigating missing and exploited children.
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