Border security, job growth through trade and oversight of the Obama Administration are key focuses for the Department of Homeland Security’s 2014 omnibus. Rep. John Carter (R-TX31), Chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, notes the bill (H.R. 3547) appropriates $39.3 billion for homeland security while also saving taxpayer dollars by providing more oversight of the Obama administration’s wasteful spending.

“I’m not going to allow President Obama and his administration to continue kingdom building, with more big government centralized DHS bureaucracy offices. We’re going to be fiscally responsible while putting our resources with the men and women on the frontlines protecting our border and this great nation,” said Chairman Carter. “This administration has proven time and again failure to provide fiscally responsible spending especially through the President’s damaging sequester cuts and unnecessary requests for DHS bureaucracy offices. We must continue to provide our men and women protecting our borders with the funds they need to keep our nation safe.”

The omnibus also includes a new initiative, sponsored by Mr. Carter, that allows Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to enter into agreements with private businesses, which will enhance trade and spur economic growth.

“By encouraging trade with our international partners through private/public sector partnerships, we will decrease government spending and increase private sector jobs for all Americans,” said Chairman Carter. “These partnerships will also enable us to secure our country while building a strong American economy.”

The omnibus includes funding for the following:

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – With more than $10.6 billion in FY 2014, CBP will have its largest workforce in history with 21,370 Border Patrol agents and 24,800 CBP officers. Following the Boston Marathon attacks, CBP’s threat-targeting systems will be improved to help identify known and suspected terrorists. As noted earlier, the bill also gives CBP the ability to enter into agreements with private industries at U.S. ports-of-entry to improve both travel and trade for all Americans. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) –Fully funding the E-Verify program, the omnibus provides $5.3 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while also increasing funding to combat human trafficking, child exploitation, cyber-crime and drug smuggling.  Critical to enforcement and homeland security, the bill also includes funding for ICE to maintain the statutorily-mandated 34,000 detention beds, which is the highest amount in history.

Federal Emergency Management Agency – Helping this country prepare and respond to disasters, FEMA is funded at $10 billion to include $6.2 billion for disaster relief activities.   The bill also includes $1.5 billion for state and local grants, $680 million for Assistance to Firefighter Grants and $350 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants. Further, the bill includes reporting requirements so anyone can go to the FEMA website and see exactly how billions of dollars for disaster relief is being spent.

Funding Restrictionsand Policy Provisions – Upon Chairman Carter’s request, the omnibus will require DHS to report to Congress bi-annually on ammunition purchases and usage. The bill also continues a ban on the transfer or release of detainees from Guantanamo Bay as well as provisions that require CBP to address wait times and staffing issues at U.S. airports and ports of entry.

Coast Guard –  The omnibus restores reckless and devastating cuts proposed by the Obama Administration and provides for our maritime security by providing $10.2 billion for the Coast Guard.  This funding level is $463 million more than the President proposed and includes targeted investments in vital operational assets such as cutters, aircraft, and communications equipment, to sustain the Coast Guard for the next year and for many years to come. 

Cybersecurity -  To protect Federal networks and provide critical outreach to address security breaches, such as the recent security breach at Target stores that endangered more than 110 customers, the omnibus provides $792 million for DHS cybersecurity programs. Further, the bill provides $60 million for the United States Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force to assist financial institutions and corporations to address cyber financial crime.