DHS proposed FY2009 budget request: Highlights

program with a government-operated program. In addition to using improved technology, the Secure Flight program aims to alleviate the variability in performance of the current system and reduce the risk of compromised watch list data

* An increase of $46 million will help provide 1,000 additional beds, staffing, and associated removal costs required to meet current demand and demand generated by increased enforcement activities

* Total funding of $57 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) automation and modernization of information technology systems to acquire secure and interoperable tactical communications equipment, a biometric detainee location tracking module, and to develop and integrate an enhanced Investigative Case Management system.

( An increase of $10 million is requested for improved border security law enforcement training through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)

* An increase of $4.2 million to support National Protection and Programs Directorate’s US-VISIT identity management and screening services program. This program provides biometric identity services to law enforcement, intelligence and civilian stakeholders with timely, accurate, and actionable information. Additional funding will complete the biometric interoperability between the US-VISIT IDENT system and the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification system

* Total funding of $7.3 million to support continued development of Command 21, and additional watchstanders at U.S. Coast Guard command centers to meet increasing operational demands and support additional vessel monitoring, information collection, and interagency coordination. These initiatives aim to provide information sharing and situational awareness tools required to close the gap between current port and coastal surveillance capabilities and the need for greater maritime domain awareness in an all-hazards, all-threats operating environment

Protect from dangerous goods

* Total funding of $334.2 million to support Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) research, development, and operations programs, which provides resources for the development and evolution of the global nuclear detection architecture. Included in this research is the development of an Advanced Spectroscopic Portal which is suitable for examining cargo containers, trucks, and privately owned vehicles. Funding will also provide for the development of Human Portable Radiation Detection Systems to be used as primary detection tools by Customs officers, Border Patrol agents, and Coast Guard personnel.

* An increase of $34.5 million for the Office of Health Affairs’ Next Generation BioWatch. Funding will procure BioWatch automated detection sensors and initiate deployment activities of the automated sensor system to all existing BioWatch jurisdictions. Automated detection will enhance the capabilities of the BioWatch environmental monitoring system