February 24, 2004   LIEBERMAN CALLS FOR $14 BILLION MORE FOR HOMELAND SECURITY TO MEET NEEDS ASSESSED BY BI-PARTISAN, INDEPENDENT ANALYSTS $6.6 Billion for First Responders   WASHINGTON – Calling the Bush Administration’s homeland security budget for next year “less than meets the eye and far less than is truly needed,” Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., Tuesday proposed additional funding above the $47 billion provided for in the President’s Fiscal Year 2005 budget. In a letter to Budget Committee Chairman Don Nickels, R-Okla., and Ranking Member Kent Conrad, D-N.D., Lieberman pushed for a $14 billion supplement to homeland security monies, with almost half of that sum going to first responders. The administration’s budget “does represent some new resources for homeland security, but the increase is less than meets the eye and far less than is truly needed,” Lieberman said in his annual assessment of budget issues pertaining to programs under the Committee's jurisdiction. “For example, discretionary spending for DHS (the Department of Homeland Security) increases only about 4 percent and would essentially maintain the status quo, rather than allowing for critical new security initiatives. Some key programs – most notably aid to first responders, our homeland security troops – will actually be cut.” Lieberman criticized the Administration’s proposed 31 percent, government-wide slash in money for first responder programs and proposed spending an additional $6.6 billion in that area. Of that sum, $4 billion is needed for first responder preparedness, he said, including interoperable communications equipment. Lieberman also called for $1 billion to fully fund the SAFER Act, which provides grants to firefighters, and $1.35 billion to restore proposed cuts to three important law enforcement grant programs – the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant, the Byrne Grants Program, and the Community Oriented Policing Services Program. Lieberman said the Administration used an “accounting anomaly” to make it appear as if it were proposing $2.5 billion for BioShield, the bioterror countermeasures program, when in fact, that sum covers the program’s funding needs for the next four years. And while the Administration touts increases to improve bioterror surveillance, it does so at the expense of existing programs. For example, $105 million in bioterrorism preparedness grants to state and local health departments is eliminated. Another $39 million to help hospitals develop surge capacity is also cut. “On closer inspection,” Lieberman said, “there is little new spending, and the budget actually cuts key existing initiatives to help defend against a bioterror attack.” Below is a link to a copy of the letter.   ###   Printable Version   Related File(s)   Letter FY05 Budget 022404 (94.1 KBs) « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 February 2004 Press Releases   February 27 - Lieberman Stands For 9-11 Families, Complete Investigation Of Most Horrific Attack In US History   February 27 - Nation Is Safer But Not Safe Enough   February 27 - Collins, Lieberman Urge Budget Committee to Fund Key Coast Guard Project   February 25 - Lieberman Says It Would Be Counterproductive To Deny The 9-11 Commission An Extension   February 25 - Administration Delays Watch List Consolidation Again   February 24 current Press Release   February 20 - Senators Collins, Lieberman Comment on TSA’s Involvement in Obtaining Sensitive Airline Passenger Information   February 13 - Senators Call on TSA to Explain Its Role in Obtaining Sensitive Airline Passenger Information   February 9 - Lieberman Hearing Statement on FY 05 Department of Homeland Security Budget   February 4 - Senate Approves Collins, Lieberman Bill to Provide Cutting Edge Counterterrorism Equipment to Communities   February 2 - Lieberman Dumfounded By Dramatic First Responder Cuts   February 2 - Lieberman, McCain Call For 9-11 Commission Extension To Ensure As Thorough Investigation As Possible
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510