By Calvin Biesecker
The Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday approved without objection a $42.9 billion FY ’10 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.
The bill was approved with only a manager’s amendment attached by Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). The bill was approved by the Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee on Wednesday (Defense Daily, June 18).
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said that the panel’s provision of $18 million for the ground-based LORAN-C navigation system for mariners and aviators is half of what the program needs to keep operating and prevent a gap in coverage should something happen to GPS satellites, which are the primary tool used for navigation. The Obama administration is not requesting any funds for LORAN-C due to reliance on GPS systems to provide navigation coverage for mariners and aviators.
Collins acknowledged that an alternative to LORAN-C, eLORAN, is being developed but said the current system should be kept online until the new system is ready. The Senate bill would allow for termination of the LORAN-C system in January 2010 if the Coast Guard Commandant certifies that it is not needed as a backup to GPS.
Collins said she hopes the matter of the additional funding for LORAN-C can be resolved during debate on the bill on the Senate floor.
The House Appropriators last week approved their version of the FY ’10 Homeland Security spending bill, providing $42.6 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Once the House and Senate approve their respective bills, differences between them will be worked out in a conference committee.
The administration is requesting $43.1 billion for DHS in FY ’10.