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PORK BARREL SPENDING IN HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL
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| For Immediate Release |
| Monday, Jul 28, 2003 |
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2004 HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Objectionable Provisions in the Bill
Transportation Security Administration
▸ $210 million for Maritime and Land Security.
Explanation: The bill would provide $295 million for Maritime and Land Security which is $210 million above the President’s FY2004 request. Within this amount the bill would provide $150 million for port security grants not requested by the Administration. In addition, the bill would provide $30 million for Operation Safe Commerce, an increase of $27.5 million over the President’s request. The accompanying report further describes the appropriators’ intentions for the Operation Safe Commerce funds.
Explanation: Provides money for port security grants and for Operation Safe Commerce.Operation Safe Commerce is a program intended to serve as a test-bed for new techniques to increase the security of container shipments -- from the point of destination through the supply chain to the point of origin. Operation Safe Commerce is not, and has never been, authorized. Report language would expand the program beyond the original pilot program ports – the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, Los Angeles and Long Beach, and the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey. This is objectionable because it is a policy change that has not been reviewed by the authorizing committee.
▸ $10,000,000 for Intercity Bus Security.
Explanation: This money was not requested by the President.
▸ $25,000,000 for Trucking Industry Grants.
Explanation: This money was not requested by the President.
▸ $13,000,000 for Hazardous materials permit program/truck tracking.
Explanation: This money was not requested by the President.
▸ $4,000,000 for nuclear detection and monitoring.
Explanation: This money was not requested by the President.
U.S. Coast Guard
▸ The bill provides $18 million to repair bridges under the Truman-Hobbs Act and the report further earmarks these funds to the following specific bridge projects: $5 million for the Florida Avenue Railway/Highway bridge in New Orleans, LA; $1.5 million for the EJ&E railroad bridge in Morris, IL; $2 million for the John F. Limehouse bridge in Charleston, SC; $2.5 million for the Chelsea Street Bridge in Boston, MA; $2,500,000 for the Sidney Lanier Highway Bridge in Brunswick, GA; and $7 million for the Fourteen Mile CSX Railroad Bridge, Mobile, AL.
Explanation: The Administration did not request this funding and the bridges earmarked are not necessarily the bridges with the greatest need to be altered under the Truman-Hobbs Act. These earmarks continue a trend where only bridges in select states annually are funded without undergoing a need or risk-management based process.
▸ The bill states that funds for bridge alteration projects conducted pursuant to the Truman-Hobbs Act shall be available for such projects only to the extent that the steel, iron, and manufactured products used in such projects are produced in the United States, unless contrary to law or international agreement, or unless the Commandant of the Coast Guard determines such action to be inconsistent with the public interest or the cost unreasonable.
▸ The report earmarks $4 million to assist the Coast Guard in transitioning its voluntary ballast water management program to mandatory enforcement.
Explanation: This money was not requested by the Administration, and the Coast Guard currently is in the process of drafting regulations to transition its ballast water management program from a voluntary program to one that is mandatory.
▸ The report contains language adding $12 million in funding for the Coast Guard’s 17th District in Alaska and contains language directing the Coast Guard to fund a total of seven Marine Safety and Security Teams (MSSTs) while the Administration only requested funding for six.
Explanation: The Administration requested six new Marine Safety and Security Teams (MSSTs) in its budget request for Boston, San Francisco, Honolulu, San Juan, San Diego, and New Orleans. It appears this additional funding will create a seventh unrequested MSST for Alaska.
▸ The report adds $202 million for the Coast Guard’s Integrated Deepwater system project.
Explanation: The Administration requested $500 million for the Coast Guard’s Integrated Deepwater system project which is approximately $50 million less than the national Deepwater plan requires. The General Accounting Office (GAO) reported in March 2003 that if the Administration’s FY04 Deepwater request is enacted. The Deepwater project will have a cumulative $202 million shortfall. This additional $202 million increase would erase this shortfall and get the Deepwater project back on schedule.
▸ The report earmarks $40 million to acquire and install a shore-based universal Automatic Identification System (AIS) coverage system in ports nationwide.
Explanation: The Administration did not request this funding. While the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2003 requires the Automatic Identification System (AIS) carriage by vessels to be phased in beginning in 2003, the Coast Guard is in the process of analyzing its shore-based coverage requirements and has not determined what the system design or calculated its costs. This $40 million is not based on any in-depth analysis and is simply a guess.
TITLE IV–ASSESSMENTS, PREPAREDNESS, AND RECOVERY
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)
Salaries and Expenses
▸ Explanation: $50,357,000 above the President’s request to cover additional student weeks of basic training.
Acquisition, Construction, Improvements, and Related Expenses
▸ Explanation: $5,029,000 above the President’s request to construct and indoor/outdoor firearms range at FLETC’s Artesia, New Mexico, location
Office for Domestic Preparedness
▸ Explanation: $15,000,000 above the President’s request for emergency management performance grants.
Cerro Grande Fire Claims
▸ Explanation: $38,062,000 above the President’s request for Cerro Grande fire claims settlement.
Directive Language found in the FY 2004 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act
• The Under Secretary of Transportation and Border Security is directed to provide a comprehensive report to the Committee describing the specific measures taken by the Department and its legacy agencies since September 11, 2001, to enhance security at the northern border. The report should include a discussion of (1) increased personnel deployment, technological improvements, and enhancements in interagency coordination; (2) measures for improvement of northern border security authorized by the Congress that the Department has not yet undertaken; and (3) aspects of northern border security requiring additional resources and focus. Because of the sensitive nature of many aspects of this report, the Department should provide both an unclassified and, if necessary, classified version of the report.
• The Department is expected to submit a plan that explains the privacy policies that will be put in place to protect the information that is housed in the US VISIT system. Both the expenditure plan and the privacy plan shall be submitted to the Committee no later than 45 days after the enactment of this Act.
• The Committee directs BCBP to review staffing nationwide, and to submit a comprehensive deployment plan to include existing (direct and fee funded) and newly funded positions. Included in the amount recommended by the Committee is continued funding at the fiscal year 2003 level for part-time and temporary positions in the Honolulu Customs District.
• The Committee directs BCBP to submit a deployment plan to the Committee for the new agents provided, and to ensure that this plan is coordinated with construction projects.
• The Committee directs BCBP to quickly implement deployment of the systems as planned and to submit a report to the Committee no later than October 1, 2003, on the progress made in meeting this goal.
• The Committee directs the Department to work with the General Services Administration to develop a nationwide strategy to prioritize and address the infrastructure needs at the land ports-of-entry and to comply with the requirements of the Public Buildings Act of 1959 to seek necessary funding.
• In addition, BCBP should review the priority funding list for construction projects for the Border Patrol, and submit to the Committee an updated plan no later than July 1, 2004.
• The Committee expects BICE to review staffing nationwide, and to submit a comprehensive deployment plan, to include existing and newly funded positions.
• The Department is directed to submit to the Committee an annual review of the program. This review should include a discussion of its effectiveness, compliance by certified schools, status of compliance reviews, the rate of student non-compliance, and the results of investigations. The first report is to be submitted by December 31, 2003.
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