A Senate panel on Tuesday approved a $40.2 billion net discretionary appropriations budget for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in FY ’16, $1.2 billion less than requested to meet budget resolution targets set forth by Republicans earlier this year.
The bill marked up by the Senate Appropriations Homeland Security (SAC HS) Subcommittee is $543 million more than Congress enacted in FY ’15. The full committee will mark up the bill beginning Thursday morning.
Rep. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), chairman of the subcommittee, said at the outset of the brief markup session that the bill emphasizes four areas: border security, which includes the Coast Guard, the Secret Service protective mission, cyber security, and hazard mitigation. In a separate statement, Hoeven said “we address the deficiencies in some of DHS’ agencies by making important investments in training, technology and improved procedures, while also requiring new measures and performance evaluations to ensure future accountability and results.”
The markup session didn’t include any amendments, which will be offered during the full committee’s consideration of the bill, and was approved by voice vote without objection.
Rep. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the ranking member on the subcommittee, praised the bipartisan bill, noting that there are no cuts to state and local grants. However, she said she “strongly” disapproves of the overall budget resolution targets that the bill fits within.
The bill would provide $10.3 billion for the Coast Guard, excluding funds from the Overseas Contingency Operations account, $496 million more than in FY ’15 and $570 million more than requested. Most of the increase for the service comes from $640 million requested for production of a ninth National Security Cutter–a project that has a program of record for eight vessels.
Customs and Border Protection would receive nearly $11.1 billion under the markup, $385 million more than in FY ’15. Funding supports 21,370 Border Patrol agents, 23,775 CBP officers and related intelligence targeting system enhancements, recapitalization of screening equipment for cargo and containers, additional mobile surveillance systems, two multi-role enforcement aircraft, and unmanned aircraft system capabilities.
According to a Democratic press release on the markup, the bill contains a $1 billion rescission of unused funds that were recovered from previous disaster responses and puts the funds toward other needs.
“This is by no means a sustainable funding source and creates a false sense that the funding level for several DHS programs, including border security technology and Coast Guard acquisitions, can be sustained in fiscal year 2017 and beyond,” the Democrats said. “This is especially true if Congress cannot reach a budget deal that would provide relief from the sequestration caps.”
The National Protection and Programs Directorate, which oversees cyber security efforts for DHS, would get more than $1.6 billion in the subcommittee’s proposal, $135 million more than in FY ’15. A Republican press release on the markup said cyber security efforts are “fully supported at $830 million,” as well as a provision for $16 million in cyber security pay reform.
The bill provides $4.7 billion for the Transportation Security Administration, $63 million less than requested. In the wake of recent DHS Inspector General findings critical of screening equipment used by the agency at checkpoints at the nation’s airports, the subcommittee said the bill includes “targeted investments in training and checkpoint security.”
The DHS Science and Technology Directorate would receive $765 million in the bill, $14 million less than requested. The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office would receive $320 million, $12 million more than in FY ’15 but $37 million less than requested.
For DHS headquarters operations and management, the markup includes $1.1 billion, $39 million more than in FY ’15, The bill includes a $212 provision fore the ongoing DHS headquarters consolidation effort at St. Elizabeth’s in Washington, D.C.