AppropriationsHomeland Security appropriations bill passes Senate subcommittee

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana), chair of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, held a markup Wednesday to approve her proposed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding plan for fiscal year 2013. Landrieu’s bill provides $45.2 billion in discretionary spending — $1 billion below fiscal year 2012.

The measure includes several Louisiana priorities, among them $8.9 billion in discretionary spending for the Coast Guard, $6.1 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), and $16.9 million for cyber education. It also includes a provision adjusting the criteria used to determine whether Community Disaster Loans provided after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are eligible for cancellation. The full Appropriations Committee began considering the legislation yesterday.

“In today’s tight budget climate, difficult trade-offs must be made. However, the Department of Homeland Security and its agencies continue to face evolving threats and need the resources to meet those challenges”  Landrieu said. “This legislation provides robust funding for the Coast Guard so they can meet their growing mission, including search and rescue, oil spill response, and drug interdiction. It also includes an additional $26 million over the President’s budget request for FEMA to improve management and logistics. While some of the President’s proposed savings for FEMA are prudent, the funding level was not adequate for the agency to effectively respond to disasters, and support recovery and mitigation. In the legislation we also provide critical funding to expedite screening at airports to promote economic growth by enhancing travel throughout the United States.”

Highlights of Landrieu’s legislation:

• $8.9 billion in discretionary spending for the Coast Guard, $307 million above the president’s budget request, which Landrieu believed was inadequate. This increase will help ensure that Coast Guard personnel serving on the front lines have the resources to accomplish their missions in fiscal year 2013 and in the future. Specific investments include:

• $335 million for six Fast Response Cutters, which are built at Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, Louisiana. This number is four above the president’s request;
• $3.1 million for twenty-six billets to enhance oil spill response capabilities.

• A provision adjusting the criteria used to determine whether Community Disaster Loans provided after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are eligible for cancellation. Included in the provision is a requirement that FEMA not count dedicated revenues as available for general fund purposes. Communities in Louisiana and Mississippi would be eligible.

• $16.9 million, $4 million above the president’s request and $2 million above FY 2012, for cyber education. The Cyber Innovation Center