[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 24, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H5734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H5734]]
   PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2555, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 
                   SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2004

  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the 
Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 293 and ask for its 
immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 293

       Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule 
     XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 2555) making appropriations for the Department 
     of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     2004, and for other purposes. The first reading of the bill 
     shall be dispensed with. All points of order against 
     consideration of the bill are waived. General debate shall be 
     confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally 
     divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority 
     member of the Committee on Appropriations. After general 
     debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the 
     five-minute rule. Points of order against provisions in the 
     bill for failure to comply with section 501 of House 
     Concurrent Resolution 95 and clause 2 of rule XXI are waived 
     except as follows: sections 514, 521, and 522. During 
     consideration of the bill for amendment, the Chairman of the 
     Committee of the Whole may accord priority in recognition on 
     the basis of whether the Member offering an amendment has 
     caused it to be printed in the portion of the Congressional 
     Record designated for that purpose in clause 8 of rule XVIII. 
     Amendments so printed shall be considered as read. At the 
     conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the 
     Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with 
     such amendments as may have been adopted. The previous 
     question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and 
     amendments thereto to final passage without intervening 
     motion except one motion to recommit with or without 
     instructions.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln 
Diaz-Balart) is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of 
debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), ranking member, pending which I yield 
myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this 
resolution, all time is yielded for the purposes of debate only.
  (Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida asked and was given permission to 
revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 293 
is an open rule that provides for the consideration of H.R. 2555, the 
Fiscal Year 2004 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. 
The rule provides 1 hour of general debate evenly divided and 
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 
on Appropriations.
  As we begin the cycle, the 2004 appropriations cycle, I think it is 
fitting that the first bill that the House considers will be the 
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. It has been now 
approaching 2 years since the Nation was severely hurt by the cowardly 
attacks of September 11, 2001. Appropriate decisive and necessary steps 
in our defense and our foreign policy have been evident under the 
leadership of President Bush through successful efforts to rid 
Afghanistan of al Qaeda and the oppressive Taliban regime and recently 
to remove a ruthless dictator from power in Iraq. The United States 
military has performed and succeeded with extraordinary distinction 
each and every time that it has been called upon.
  Now I look forward to the fair debate that is provided under this 
rule and the eventual passage of this legislation so that we can 
continue to act as well on local, State and Federal levels to reinforce 
the security of the United States of America. Funding from this 
Congress to protect the homeland in this legislation, the underlying 
legislation, is $29.4 billion, $1 billion over President Bush's 
request, and this legislation will provide $4.4 billion to the Office 
of Domestic Preparedness.
  I have seen firsthand the work of Federal dollars when supplemented 
with State and local funding to make our communities safer. In south 
Florida the local governments and municipalities have taken extensive 
steps to secure the safety of airports and seaports, utilities and 
water supplies, but they certainly need the supplemental funding and 
grants that this bill makes available. With over 7,500 miles of land 
border and 361 seaports, the local authorities obviously, Mr. Speaker, 
will always be the front line of defense. First responders are the key 
to the effective protection of our communities. The Office of Domestic 
Preparedness has seen an increase in grants and aid of 1,400 percent 
since September 11, 2001. Through fiscal year 2004, this Congress has 
enacted or proposed over $17 billion in funding for local emergency 
work. Although much of the funding goes through State governments for 
distribution, of those funds 80 percent must be sent, passed on to the 
local municipalities by the States within 45 days.

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