The Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC) on Thursday approved its version of the FY ’15 Department of Homeland Security bill, recommending $39 billion in discretionary spending, about $220 million below the amount provided by House appropriators and close to $700 million above the Obama administration’s request.
The spending bill, which was first marked up on Tuesday by the SAC Homeland Security subcommittee, was approved unanimously by voice vote. It must still be approved by the Senate.
Included in the Senate committee’s markup is $638 million for production of the eighth and final Coast Guard National Security Cutter, $318 million for six Fast Response Cutters, $20 million for continued design of the Offshore Patrol Cutter, and $6 million to continue design and acquisition planning on a new polar icebreaker.
The bill also includes $757 million for cyber security within the DHS National Protection and Program’s Directorate, $104 million for the Secret Service to conduct cyber security training with state and local law enforcement officials, $163.7 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to support cyber investigations, and $75 million for cyber security research, development and transition activities within the Science and Technology Directorate.
The Office of Biometric Identity Management, which formerly was called US-VISIT, would receive $249 million. The office manages the department’s biometric database called IDENT.
The bill also recommends about $2.5 billion in various homeland security grants to states and urban areas, first responders, and ports.