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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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April
2005
Volume 8 - Number 3 |
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Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Budget for
the
Lamonte D. Purdie The President’s FY 2006 budget request for the DHS marks the third such request since its creation in March 2003. Based upon a fact sheet and budget-in-brief of the President’s FY 2006 budget request for the DHS, provided is a summary. For FY 2006, the President requested a total of $41,066,718,000 for the entire DHS. This represents an increase of 7 percent above its enacted FY 2005 budget of $38,510,517,000. The greatest benefactors of the requested FY 2006 budget of the 22 bureaus and agencies that makeup the DHS, are Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with a 13.5 percent increase and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), with an increase of 9 percent. The President’s FY 2006 budget request for the DHS seeks to: - Establish a Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) that “…will develop, acquire and support the deployment and improvement of a domestic system to detect and report attempts to import, assemble, or transport a nuclear explosive devise, fissile material or radiological material intended for illicit use.” - Consolidate “…various DHS screening activities with the formation of a Office of Screening Coordination and Operations (SCO) within the Border and Transportation Security (BTS) directorate.” - Establish the “Targeted Infrastructure Protection Program….enabling DHS to supplement state, local and regional government efforts in their protection of critical national infrastructures such as seaports, mass transit, railways, and energy facilities.” - “Consolidate the research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) activities within the DHS Science and Technology (S&T) directorate.” - Establish “…a regional structure for DHS and integrate and identify efficiencies within information technology, facilities, and operations centers across DHS.” - Proposes to increase fees for one- and multiple-leg airline tickets in order to nearly fund all costs of aviation screening operation. - Continues funding to reduce the backlog of citizenship/immigration applications and ensure a six-month processing standard for all applications by the end of 2006. In addition to the above new items, the FY 2006 budget request continues to fund existing programs/projects within the DHS. These items are categorized by the following themes: Revolutionizing the Borders; Strengthening Law Enforcement; Improving National Preparedness and Response; Leveraging Technology; and, Creating a 21st Century Department. The U.S. House of Representatives has begun reviewing and conducting hearings on the President’s FY 2006 budget request for the DHS. The House Homeland Security Committee (HSC) has oversight responsibility for the DHS and is the authorizer and appropriator of its budget. Recently, the HSC issued a report summarizing its initial views and estimates of the President’s requested budget. Based upon preliminary review by the HSC, it is concerned that the budget request is not inline with its current priorities to fight terrorism and intelligence; the department requires further management reform within the department; lacks sufficient resources to secure our borders; and, funding being requested for new programs/projects are not fully justified. Sources: www.dhs.gov and www.hsc.house.gov |