FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Margaret Wicker McPhillips
June 13 , 2007	(202)224-6414

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee approved its FY 2008 spending bill today.  The legislation recommends approval of $36.4 billion in discretionary spending for the Department of Homeland Security.  Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) serves as the top Republican on the subcommittee.

“Mississippians understand the importance of securing our nation against both manmade and natural threats,” Senator Cochran said.  “The legislation approved by the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee today would fund many programs that directly impact the safety of Mississippi’s citizens and bolster our nation’s border enforcement practices.”

Details on funding for Mississippi and border security are listed below. 

Mississippi-Specific Highlights:

Science and Technology

·    $35 million to continue the Southeast Regional Research Initiative (SERRI), which funds university-sponsored research and development for national disaster preparedness

·    $11 million for the National Bio and Agrodefense Facility (NBAF), to continue site development and environmental impact studies for the counter-terrorism research facility

National Center for Critical Information Processing and Storage

·    $97.3 million for the National Center for Critical Infrastructure Processing and Storage (NCCIPS), which seeks to consolidate and safely store information critical to the operations of the federal government

Transportation Security Administration

·    Up to $75 million of the President’s request designated for the purchase and installation of next-generation explosive detection systems (EDS) for use in the nation’s small- and medium-sized airports

Federal Emergency Management Agency

• Language to encourage FEMA to develop a program to accurately and instantly validate the identities of recipients of federal disaster assistance
• $1.7 is included for the Disaster Relief Fund.  This is at the level of the President’s request. 

Homeland Security Grant programs

·    $16 million to continue the Highway Watch program

Coast Guard Deepwater

·    $165.7 million to fully fund the President’s request for the National Security Cutter (NSC), the flagship vessel of the United States Coast Guard

First Responder Grants and Assistance including

• $900,000,000 for state and local assistance grants and law enforcement terrorism prevention grants;
• $400,000,000 for port security grants
• $700,000,000 for firefighter assistance grants, of which $140,000,000 is for SAFER Act grants
• $300,000,000 for emergency management performance grants.

Immigration and Border Security Highlights: 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection – A total of $8,841,477,000 is recommended ($58,185,000 more than the request) for securing the Nation’s borders, including:

• $2,984,443,000 for border staffing between the ports of entry; including 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, as requested;
• $1,000,000,000 for sensor and surveillance technology, and physical infrastructure projects along the border, as requested; and
• $488,947,000 for air and marine operations, including $12,540,000 above the request to expand marine enforcement operations;
  

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – A total of $4,432,893,000 ($264,893,000 more than the request) is recommended for investigating and enforcing immigration and customs laws, including:

• $1,518,652,000 for investigations, including increases of $15,000,000 for worksite enforcement; $10,500,000 for document and benefit fraud; and $10,200,000 for gang enforcement; and
• $2,306,052,000 for detention and removals, including $177,000,000 for an additional 3,050 detention beds above the request; $10,500,000 above the request for the criminal alien program, and $8,500,000 for expansion of fugitive operations.

The bill was approved by voice vote and will be considered by the full Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday.