Homeland Security appropriations bill passes Senate subcommittee

(CIC) in Bossier City Louisiana has received two grants from this funding — $300,000 in FY 2011 and $2.4 million in FY 2012 — to develop programs for school aged children to get involved in cybersecurity which will promote workforce development. This will allow the CIC an opportunity to continue working with DHS on cyber education.

• $6.1 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund. FEMA’s general fund to support disaster response, recovery and mitigation projects — including $5.5 billion through the disaster relief adjustment made available by the Budget Control Act. This is the same amount requested in the budget.

• Jones Act Enforcement: The bill continues a provision prohibiting waivers of the Jones Act for transporting releases of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the Secretary, after consultation with the Secretaries of the Departments of Energy and Transportation and representatives from the U.S. flag maritime industry, takes adequate measures to ensure the use of U.S. flag vessels. The secretary must also notify Congress within two business days of any other request for waivers. CBP also is directed to develop a system to track the status of all Jones Act violations, and to regularly report to Congress on specific Jones Act violations.

• $831 million for Science and Technology programs — a 24 percent increase above the fiscal year 2012 level of $668 million. These investments, such as biological, nuclear, and chemical countermeasures, are often accomplished by U.S. small businesses and are critical to staying ahead of the evolving threat.

• $1.41 billion for first responder grants, an increase of $369 million over fiscal year 2012. In response to the many natural disasters last year, it was the state and local first responders who were on the front lines. First responder grant programs provide essential equipment and training that are critical in responding to both natural and man-made disasters.

• Increased funding for travel initiatives to promote economic activity and create jobs including:

• $7 million, as requested, for TSA’s Pre-Check Trusted Traveler program. Language is included requiring TSA to report on its plans to expand Pre-Check to passengers who currently do not qualify for the program, including a timeline and milestones for future expansion of Pre-Check, and a description of security measures to ensure eligible passengers are fully vetted;
• $4.5 million above the president’s request is included for expansion of the popular Global Entry program to five additional airports. Global Entry is a program that allows people who have provided additional background information on themselves and paid a $100 fee to expedite their customs and immigration inspections upon arrival in the United States. It currently operates in twenty airports.
• A requirement that TSA allow flight attendants to participate in the same expedited screening program available to airline pilots.
• Bill language that would increase the number of countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program, facilitating travel from countries such as Poland. This reform, which is supported by the Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Travel Association, could generate hundreds of millions of dollars of economic activity and thousands of new jobs.
• $10 million above the president’s request for expansion of preclearance operations, including staffing, at foreign airports for people traveling to the United States.
• $2.5 million above the president’s request is included for improved signage and other information welcoming foreign travelers to U.S. airports, as well as language to guide training for CBP officers, who are the first face of the U.S. for travelers to this country