Chairman John Carter (R-TX31) led the markup tonight of the FY15 Homeland Security bill that prioritizes enforcement and fiscal responsibility.  The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security approved the funding bill by a voice vote.

“I am proud to have put together a bill that addresses our national security priorities – enforcement, security and fiscal responsibility. We need to protect our country and that starts here at our ports, borders, and airports,” said Chairman Carter. “We cannot afford to follow President Obama’s weak leadership and harmful budget proposal. This bill does not give the President the option to use his ‘pen’ and ‘phone’ to further his political agenda, but instead holds his Administration accountable to the laws created by Congress. This legislation bolsters Congressional oversight to ensure that every dollar goes towards strengthening our national security and supplies the necessary tools to our forces on the front lines.”

The bill provides $39.2 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Homeland Security. This is a decrease of $50 million below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level, but an increase of $887.8 million above the President’s request for these programs. The bill prioritizes funding to first and foremost secure our border. The bill invests in the fight against cyber terrorism, illegal narcotics, and human trafficking. The bill also denies the President’s proposal to increase aviation passenger security fees and Customs and Border Protection user fees.

Bill Highlights:

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) -The bill contains $10.8 billion in discretionary appropriations for CBP – an increase of $219.6 million above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and $98.3 million above the President’s request. This funding will provide for 21,370 Border Patrol agents and 23,775 CBP officers – maintaining the largest totals in history. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) –The bill provides $5.5 billion for ICE – an increase of $466.2 million above the President’s request and $210.9 million above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level. 

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) –The bill includes $4.6 billion for TSA – a decrease of $300.3 million below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level.

Cybersecurity –The bill includes a total of $745.5 million for the National Protection Program Directorate’s cybersecurity operations, the same as the President’s request and $46.7 million below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level. This funding will continue improvements to the Federal Network Security program to help blunt cyber-attacks and foreign espionage, while reflecting the most current acquisition schedule.

Coast Guard –The bill contains $8.5 billion for the U.S. Coast Guard – a decrease of $46.6 million below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level, and an increase of $315.6 million above the President’s request. The bill sustains military pay and allowances, and denies the President’s requested cuts that would have gutted vital Coast Guard operations, including counternarcotic activities. 

Secret Service –The bill includes $1.6 billion for the U.S. Secret Service – an increase of $51.7 million above the fiscal year 2014 level – which includes necessary increases for the preliminary costs of the 2016 Presidential election. The bill increases funding for investigations and cybersecurity, and continues funding for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which the President proposed to zero out. The bill also withholds $20 million from the Office of the Director until the completion of a comprehensive report on professional conduct of Secret Service personnel.

FEMA–The bill fully funds FEMA’s stated requirement for disaster relief at $7 billion. The bill provides a total of $2.5 billion for first responder grants, equal to the fiscal year 2014 enacted level, which includes: $1.5 billion for State and Local grants, $680 million for Assistance to Firefighter Grants, and $350 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants.

Citizenship and Immigration Services- $124.8 million – as requested – for E-Verify, a program that helps companies check if their employees may legally work in the United States.

Research and Development –The bill includes $1.1 billion for Science and Technology, $34.8 million above the request and $113.6 million below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level. This funding sustains investment in high-priority research and development efforts, and includes $300 million to complete the final phase of the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF).

Savings –The bill includes several provisions to save taxpayer dollars and improve efficiency. For example, the bill does not include funding for a civilian pay raise, rescinds unobligated balances from FEMA, reduces $76.4 million from Coast Guard acquisition funding, and denies a consolidation of the DHS headquarters for a savings of $73 million.

Funding Restrictions and Policy Provisions –The bill continues a prohibition on funds to transfer or release detainees from Guantanamo Bay, and includes numerous other funding restrictions to prevent waste and abuse. Some of these provisions include: a restriction against another “Fast and Furious” type program, extensive reporting requirements for DHS’s procurement and usage of ammunition, and limitations and reporting requirements on spending for conferences and ceremonies.

For the complete text of the FY 2015 Subcommittee Draft Homeland Security Appropriations bill, please visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/UploadedFiles/BILLS-113HR-SC-AP-FY2015-HSecurity-SubcommitteeDraft.pdf