The $55 Billion Billion Dept. of Homeland Security Budget for FY2019 (S. 3109)
Do you support or oppose this bill?
What is S. 3109?
(Updated October 13, 2020)
This bill would provide $55.15 billion in funding for the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year 2019, an increase of $611 million from the prior year to fund DHS missions including border security, disaster relief, transportation security, immigration enforcement, and cybersecurity. A breakdown of which agencies and activities that funding would go to can be found below.
Customs & Border Protection (CBP): $14.3 billion in funding would be provided for FY2019, an increase of $239 million from the prior year. That would fully fund the president’s $1.8 billion FY19 budget request for the construction of the border wall system, and support 375 new Border Patrol agents, 375 new CBP officers, equipment, and technology for operations at borders and ports of entry. This section would also provide:
An increase in dedicated funding to combat the illegal movement of opioids through ports of entry.
Funding for tactical communications and recapitalization of non-intrusive inspection equipment.
Additional surveillance systems and other situational awareness technology.
Three multi-role enforcement aircraft and enhancements to unmanned aerial system (UAS or drone) capabilities.
Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE): $7.21 billion in funding would be provided for FY2019, an increase of $134 million from the prior year. This section would also provide continued support for new teams targeting at-large criminal unauthorized immigrants and those who overstay their visas. It’d also provide $84 million for ICE vehicles and additional funding for new personnel to investigate opioid trafficking.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA): $4.84 billion in funding would be provided for the TSA, a decrease of $83 million from the prior year. It’d make targeted investments in personnel, canine teams, and advanced checkpoint technology such as:
Funding for 1,450 new TSA personnel to staff checkpoints and mitigate wait times;
An additional 50 canine teams to allow for increased throughput of passengers;
Investments in future checkpoint technology;
Fully funding layers of security such as passenger pre-screening, the Federal Air Marshal Service, and the Federal Flight Deck Officer program.
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG): $10.19 billion in funding would be provided for the Coast Guard, an decrease of $237 million from the prior year. Funding would be provided to support operations and hire additional military personnel, in addition to funding for increased acquisitions such as:
$750 million for heavy polar icebreaker recapitalization;
Ongoing Offshore Patrol Cutter acquisition;
Additional Fast Response Cutters;
Support for aircraft recapitalization and enhanced shore infrastructure.
U.S. Secret Service: $2.18 billion in funding would be provided for FY2019, an increase of $173 million from the prior year. It would fully support Secret Service activities and additional hiring needed for the 2020 presidential campaign and support for upcoming national security events. That’d include full funding for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, plus an additional $6 million targeted to training state and local officials in computer forensics and cyber investigations.
National Protection and Programs Directorate: $1.95 billion in funding would be provided for FY2019, an increase of $38 million from the prior year. An additional $1.53 billion in fees for the Federal Protective Service would be accounted for in the bill. Further, the section would provide the following funding:
$1.1 billion for cybersecurity, including protection of civilian federal networks.
That’d include include $406 million for the National Cybersecurity Protection System along with an additional $47 million targeted for Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation.
An increase of $33 million would be targeted for helping states and localities with election security information sharing and assistance.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): $11.69 billion in funding for FY2019, of which $7.23 billion would go to the Disaster Relief Fund. The remaining $4.46 billion would be non-disaster funding, an increase of $96 million from the prior year. It’d include $3.27 billion in grant and training programs for state and local first responders such as:
$512 million for State Homeland Security Grants, including $90 million for Operation Stonegarden;
$605 million for Urban Area Security Initiative grants, including $20 million for non-profit organizations;
$100 million each for Port and Transit Security grants;
$700 million for FIre and SAFER grants;
$350 million for Emergency Management Performance grants;
$250 million for pre-disaster mitigation;
$250 million for Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program.
Miscellaneous
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services would receive $132 million for E-Verify operations and enhancements.
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers would receive $361 million, including funds to train more than 95,000 students and funds to complete important facility construction.
The Science & Technology Directorate would receive $813 million to continue the operation of S & T laboratories and all current Centers of Excellence.
The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office / Office of Health Affairs would receive $457 million, the same as the prior year.
Oversight: The bill would also provide instruction regarding metrics and performance evaluation to hold DHS accountable for outcomes, including:
Limiting the diversion of funds provided for personnel to unrequested and unplanned expenditures.
Requiring DHS to submit a report on visa overstays and publish border security metrics.
Requiring quarterly obligation and staffing plans and better details in budget justifications.
Requiring DHS to report conference spending to the inspector general and limiting the use of funds for certain conferences.
Argument in favor
This bipartisan bill prioritizes investments in border security, cybersecurity, aviation security, and other important missions that the Dept. of Homeland Security performs.
Argument opposed
This bill wouldn’t provide all of the needed funding to complete the border wall. Alternatively, it shouldn’t provide so much funding for border security provisions.
Impact
The Dept. of Homeland Security.
Cost of S. 3109
A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.
Additional Info
In-Depth: Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) said of this funding package:
“We have a very strong bill that funds critical Homeland Security priorities and meets our national security needs, providing the department and its nearly 250,000 employees with the resources they need to carry out a broad set of missions around the world. My highest priority in writing this bill was to secure U.S. borders, and I’m proud to say that our legislation makes a major down payment to do that. This legislation also provides critical resources that will help strengthen cybersecurity, improve our efforts to fight the opioid epidemic, support state and local law enforcement, and keep Americans safe.”
This legislation passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on a 26-5 vote.
Media:
Summary by Eric Revell
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