On January 25, the President announced that he would be spending $11 billion for the controlling our borders.  The President stated that the massive flow of people and goods across our borders helps drive our economy, but can also serve as a conduit for terrorists, weapons of mass destruction, illegal migrants, contraband, and other unlawful commodities.  President Bush envisions a border that is grounded on two key principles:

                        · America’s air, land, and sea borders must provide a strong defense for American people against all external threats, most importantly international terrorist but also drugs, foreign disease, and other dangerous items.
                         · America’s borders must be highly efficient, posing little or no obstacle to all legitimate trade and travel.

Strengthening Homeland Security

The President’s 2003 Budget will increase resources for homeland security from the current $19.5 billion to $37.7 billion.  These increases will be provided to support the immediate needs of enhancing first responder programs, securing America’s borders, combating bioterrorism, strengthening intelligence sharing, improving transportation security and supporting other national defense related initiatives.

First Responders are our police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical teams.  With the right training and equipment, our first responders have the greatest potential to save lives and limit casualties.

Border Security Initiatives

In the 2003 Budget, the President will propose $10.7 billion for border security, an increase of $2.1 billion from the 2002 budget.

The 2003 budget for the U.S. Customs Service will be increased by $619 million for a total of $2.3 billion.  This increase will allow for the addition of new agents and the procurement of new technology.

The budget increase for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) will be $1.2 billion, for a total of $5.3 billion.  These resources will enhance key INS missions such as border patrol, inspections, and the implementation of advanced technology systems for monitoring the entry and exit of foreign visitors.

The United States Coast Guard’s 2003 budget increase will be on the order of $282 million, for an overall budget of $2.9 billion.  The Coast Guard’s port security mission has grown from 1-2 percent or daily operations to 50-60 percent following the events of September 11.

The President’s 2003 Budget also proposes an increase in discretionary funding for the Department of Agriculture’s Quarantine Inspection Program by $14 million, for a total of $61 million.