06.19.18

SUMMARY: FY2019 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill Clears Senate Subcommittee

Washington, D.C. –

The fiscal year 2019 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Bill provides a discretionary total of $55.151 billion, of which $6.652 billion is provided for Disaster Relief, as defined by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, and $165 million is provided for Coast Guard Overseas Contingency Operations funds.  After excluding these two amounts, the net discretionary appropriation for DHS is $48.334 billion, $611 million more than the fiscal year 2018 enacted amount.

The DHS bill invests in a diverse set of programs that protect the American public from threats by land, sea, air, and cyber. The bill also makes significant investments to ensure that State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial governments are prepared for all risks.

U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), Ranking Member of the Department of Homeland Security Subcommittee, said: “This national security bill makes critical investments at our northern and southern borders, provides the Coast Guard with new assets to protect our ports and waterways, bolsters security at our airports, increases support for local law enforcement, and helps stop the flow of dangerous drugs, like opioids, fentanyl, and methamphetamines. By making these responsible investments we will keep our nation safe and tackle some of our country’s most pressing security challenges.”

Key Provisions

Combatting Opioids. The bill provides a total of $147.9 million across several DHS components to combat the flow of opioids into the U.S.  These funds will deploy detection technology and improve interdiction at ports of entry and international mail facilities, add 15 new CBP drug detection canine teams, expand opioid and other illicit drug investigations (including training in opioid cyber investigative techniques) to combat supply chains using the “dark web,” and develop opioid detectors to protect law enforcement officers and canines who come in contact with dangerous doses.

Customs and Border Protection. The bill provides $14.256 billion for Customs and Border Protection, $239 million more than fiscal year 2018 and $31 million more than the fiscal year 2019 request.  The bill includes funds to support the hiring of 375 new CBP officers for deployment to our air and land ports of entry and 375 new Border Patrol agents (instead of the 750 requested by the President). In addition, $35 million is provided to relocate and retain existing agents, especially in remote locations.  A greater emphasis has also been placed on reliable and proven border solutions and funds critical investments in technologies and assets, including:

  • $98.6 million for countering opioids.
  • $174 million for non-intrusive inspection equipment at our ports.
  • $86 million for 3 additional multi-role enforcement aircraft to continue addressing aviation needs.
  • $14.5 million for integrated coastal interceptor vessels for patrolling our maritime borders.
  • $43.7 million for remote video surveillance systems.
  • $4 million for mobile surveillance capability.
  • $60 million for replacement vehicles.
  • $8.2 million to continue deploying new border technology including funds to address the cross-border tunnel threat.

This bill includes $1.6 billion for approximately 65 miles of pedestrian fencing in the Rio Grande Valley.  The bill limits funds in the bill to currently deployed fencing design along the southern border, such as bollard fencing.  The bill includes a prohibition on building any barrier in the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge and requires a comprehensive risk-based border security plan no later than 180 days after enactment. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  $7.210 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, $135 million more than fiscal year 2018, and $1.081 billion less than the fiscal year 2019 request.  Funds in the bill ensure compliance with U.S. immigration laws while streamlining and facilitating the legal immigration process.  Funds are continued to strongly support investigations into stopping human trafficking and smuggling, as well as efforts to prevent child sex tourism through funding of International Meagan’s Law. The bill rejects the President’s request to increase the number of detention beds to 52,000.  Instead, the bill funds an average daily population of 40,520 adult and family detention beds, the same as the fiscal year 2018 enacted amount. The bill rejects the President’s request to hire 3,300 new ICE employees to support his executive order on immigration. 

The bill requires DHS to make monthly public disclosures on all family separation incidents; verifying the location, status, and disposition of separated family members; disclosing the ages of all minors being separated from their family units; and detailing steps it is taking to ensure families are reunited prior to being removed or released.

The bill does not include controversial language requested by the President targeting so-called “sanctuary cities” or language codifying restrictions for women’s health care within ICE facilities.  

Transportation Security Administration.  The bill provides $7.513 billion in total discretionary spending, $117 million more than fiscal year 2018 and $277 million more than the fiscal year 2019 request.  The total is partially offset by $2.670 billion in air passenger security fees for a net discretionary total of $4.843 billion.  Funds support the screening of over 2 million daily passengers at over 450 airports nationwide.  The bill includes $26 million more than the request for 360 front line screener personnel to keep pace with increasing passenger volume; includes $10.1 million more than the request for 50 additional canine teams for passenger screening; fully restores $46 million for the Law Enforcement Reimbursement program, which was proposed for elimination in the President’s request; restores $77 million to continue staffing airport exit lanes, rejecting the Administration’s proposal to shift the burden to airports; provides $56 million for 31 TSA VIPR teams, which were proposed for elimination in the President’s request; provides $71.5 million, as requested, for 145 computed tomography (CT) scanners for use at passenger checkpoints; and provides $50 million more than the request to continue reimbursing airports for in-line baggage screening systems built after 9/11.

Coast Guard.  The bill provides $11.934 billion, $173 million less than fiscal year 2018 and $496 million more than the fiscal year 2019 request.  When mandatory funding and Overseas Contingency Funding is excluded, the discretionary total is $10.030 billion.  For new assets and infrastructure, the bill provides $2.169 billion, $283 million more than the request.  Investments include $750 million to award a construction contract for the first heavy polar icebreaker in over 40 years; $400 million for the second Offshore Patrol Cutter and long lead time materials for the third; $240 million for procurement of four Fast Response Cutters; and $255 million for shore facility construction.  For operations and support, the bill provides $7.627 billion (excluding Overseas Contingency Funds), $34 million more than the request, including $15 million for 250 additional military personnel to augment the Coast Guard’s ability to carry out its 11 statutory missions.  Additionally, $2 million more than the request is provided to increase the childcare subsidy for Coast Guard military families.

United States Secret Service. The bill provides $2.180 billion, $173 million more than fiscal year 2018 and $28 million more than the fiscal year 2019 request.  Included in the bill is $8.4 million for support to investigations of missing and exploited children. A large portion of the funding (approximately $735 million) is for protective operations regarding the First Family, other protectees, and associated facilities. The bill includes additional funds above the request to perform deferred maintenance on the White House Complex and enhancement to protect the President and Vice President against emerging explosive, chemical, biological, radiological, and cyber threats.  An increase of $24 million is for initial training and preparation for the 2020 Presidential campaign.

Cybersecurity.  The bill provides a total of $1.076 billion, $13 million less than fiscal year 2018 enacted amount and $86 million more than the fiscal year 2019 request.  This investment will help guard against the over 35,000 cybersecurity incidents experienced by federal agencies in Fiscal Year 2017, which is a 14 percent increase compared to the previous year, and the more than 53,000 incidents, and 2,216 confirmed breaches, in the private sector.  The total provides $280 million for readiness and response activities related to potential attacks on critical infrastructure and government systems, including $14.3 million for cybersecurity education to train future cyber personnel and $33 million for election security.  Election security funds will be used to identify vulnerabilities in elections systems, test resiliency, and mitigate threats only if requested by State, Local, Tribal, or Territorial governments.  The bill includes $749 million for intrusion detection, diagnostics, and mitigation related to civilian federal networks.  Finally, $4.7 million is for research and development related to proactive cyber protection such as predicting evolving threats.  

FEMA Federal Assistance.  The bill includes $3.273 billion for grants and training to State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial entities, $21 million less than fiscal year 2018 enacted amount and $628 million more than the fiscal year 2019 request.  Programs are funded as follows: 

  • $512 million for State Homeland Security Grants, of which $90 million is for Operation Stonegarden and $10 million is for nonprofit security.
  • $605 million for the Urban Area Security Initiative, of which $25 million is for nonprofit security.
  • $100 million for Public Transportation Security, of which $10 million is for Amtrak and $2 million is for Bus Security.
  • $100 million for Port Security.     
  • $700 million for Firefighter Assistance Grants. 
  • $350 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants.
  • $250 million for Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis.
  • $250 million for Predisaster Mitigation Grants.
  • $100 million for Emergency Food and Shelter Grants.
  • $15 million for Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grants.  
  • $15 million for Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams. 
  • $276 million for training, including $44 million for the US Fire Administration.                        

Disaster Relief.  The bill provides $7.234 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund, $6.652 billion of which is provided pursuant to the Budget Control Act disaster relief cap adjustment.

Science and Technology.  The bill provides $813 million for S&T, which is $28 million less than the fiscal year 2018 enacted amount and $230 million more than the fiscal year 2019 budget request. The bill fully restores funding for two laboratories the President’s request proposed to eliminate, the Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) and the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL).The bill includes $40.5 million, the same as fiscal year 2018 and $18.7 million more than the request for the University Centers of Excellence Program.

Securing the Cities.  The bill provides $22.1 million for the Securing the Cities Program, which is the same amount as fiscal year 2018 enacted level and the fiscal year 2019 budget request. 

DHS Headquarters Consolidation.  The bill provides $81 million associated with the construction of the FEMA headquarters building on the St. Elizabeths campus, $81 million more than the fiscal year 2018 enacted level and $90 million less than the fiscal year 2019 budget request. 

###