Senate committees proposed $70B for Homeland Security budget

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced a bill in the Senate Appropriations Committee to fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021.

The $69.8 billion spending plan includes funding to support investments in border security, disaster recovery and prevention, cybersecurity, aviation security, state and local grants, programs to improve national security, and efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.

“The bill released today is a fiscally responsible way to invest and support the broad aspects of the mission of the Department of Homeland Security enabling them to fulfill their mission,” Capito, chair of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, said. “I will continue to work with my Senate colleagues and House counterparts to complete the FY2021 appropriations process. In the meantime, the men and women of the department, who have worked tirelessly through a challenging period in our history, deserve our support for their commitment and dedication to our nation.”

The biggest chunk, $22.1 billion, is going to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including $17.7 billion to support the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). It also provides $3.1 billion in State Homeland Security Grants; $1.1 billion for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER), Assistance to Firefighters (AFG), and Emergency Management Performance (EMPG) grants; and increases for dam safety and regional grants.

The bill includes $15.5 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including $1.96 billion for 82 miles of border wall system. It includes border surveillance technology, as well as construction and facility improvements. Another $8.8 billion is earmarked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including support for immigration enforcement activities consistent and funds to combat the opioid epidemic and cybersecurity investigations.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) proposed budget is $12.5 billion to support ongoing acquisitions for vessel and aircraft recapitalization and funding for significant shore infrastructure, cybersecurity, and IT enhancements. In addition, the legislation sets aside $8.6 billion for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), including targeted increases for aviation security. Also, the bill proposes $2 billion for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT), the minority leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee, expressed his disappointment that the Republican majority canceled the committee markups, eliminating the ability of members to offer amendments.

“This is an important part of the process when developing legislation. It would have given all members a chance to weigh in and publicly debate these bills. That is our job as Senators. That is how a democracy is supposed to function, regardless of which party is in the majority. We should not be running away from the tough issues,” Leahy said.

Leahy blasted the bill for setting aside $2 billion for the Southern border wall.

“This additional funding is on top of the $15 billion American taxpayers have already paid toward a useless border wall – money that could have been better invested elsewhere to address real homeland security needs, health care, infrastructure, and COVID-19 requirements,” he said.

Leahy also took issue with the funding for ICE detention, calling the amount “simply unwarranted” because it fails to reflect ICE’s detained population, which has decreased amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The agency is essentially provided a slush fund for this administration’s extreme enforcement and removal activities. The status quo is simply unacceptable for an agency that has continually failed in its responsibility to appropriately manage resources provided by Congress and failed to establish sensible priorities regarding which immigrants it should detain and remove,” he said.