[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 10612-10613]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS H.R. 5441

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 7, 2006

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I supported the Fiscal Year 2007 
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5441). The 
bill provided $33.1 billion for our Nation's homeland security. These 
funds will help our Federal, State and local first responders react to 
both natural disasters and terrorist events. Yet, funds appropriated in 
this bill represent only a 5 percent increase from the funds we 
appropriated last year and do not fully meet the homeland security 
needs of our country. Even though I supported the bill, I believe that 
we can and we should do more.
  I am disappointed that Ranking Member Obey's amendment to add $3.5 
billion to the bill for transit security, border security, port 
security, first responders, and preparedness programs was rejected 
along party lines by the Homeland Security Appropriations Committee and 
was prohibited from being offered. These programs are essential to 
strong and robust hometown security. This indispensable funding would 
have been easily paid for by rolling back the tax savings that 
taxpayers with incomes over $1 million today received under the 2001 
and 2003 tax cuts.
  I am glad that this bill provides $19.6 billion for border security. 
This represents a 9 percent increase from current funding and shows 
that the House takes seriously the challenges we face in securing our 
Nation's borders. Yet it still falls short of the request made by 
President Bush.
  This bill also includes $4.2 billion for port and cargo security, 
which is a 12 percent increase over last year. After the controversy 
over the D.P. World's attempt to acquire operating control of a number 
of U.S. ports earlier this year, Congress finally recognized the need 
to invest in container inspection and radiological detection. This bill 
also includes increased funding for grants to State and local 
governments to improve port security. But more needs to be done.
  I was troubled that for the third year in a row DHS's rail and 
transit security grant program was flat funded at $150 million. This 
bill already provided $200 million for port security and $4.7 billion 
for aviation security. That is why I joined my colleagues Mr. Castle 
and Mr. Lynch in offering an amendment to increase funding for this 
essential grant program by $50 million. A clear majority of Congress 
agreed with us and voted to ensure that rail security received an 
increase in funding. I am glad to have led this effort to make a small 
but important step to ensuring that our nation's rail and transit 
providers have the resources they need to ensure the safety of millions 
of Americans daily.
  I remain troubled that nothing has been done in this bill to 
significantly reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). I 
have long argued that FEMA should be removed from the Department of 
Homeland Security and be reestablished as an independent agency that 
reports directly to the President.

[[Page 10613]]

Unfortunately, the House again has missed an opportunity to put FEMA on 
the road to reform. As we begin hurricane season, I cannot forget the 
destruction and deaths caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It is 
time to remove FEMA from the Department of Homeland Security, where it 
never belonged.
  Despite the lessons learned in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, 
this bill also cuts funding for firefighter grants by 17 percent. It 
also provides $7 million less than last year for the office of Grants 
and Training, formerly known as the Office of Domestic Preparedness. 
Unbelievably, this bill cuts by 65 percent from a DHS program that 
helps Federal, State, local, and private organizations implement 
protection strategies and to provide training to State homeland 
security advisors.
  Congress has a duty to provide the American people with the best 
security possible in the wake of a natural disaster or a terrorist 
attack. While this bill does not fully provide the funding our Federal, 
State and local homeland security officials have said they need, it 
does begin to meet their needs. I will continue to work with my 
colleague in Congress to ensure that we increase our Nation's 
investment in our homeland security.

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