DeLay: House Gives President Means to Protect America; Homeland Security Department Receives Vital Funding

6/24/2003

From: Stuart Roy or Jonathan Grella, 202-225-4000, both of the Office of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay; Web: http://www.majorityleader.gov

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) today said the House has given the president the necessary means to build and strengthen the Department of Homeland Security.

The Homeland Security Appropriations bill is based on the priorities laid out by President Bush and developed by Secretary Ridge and the Homeland Security Department.

"Today we have taken a vital step in protecting America from terrorism by giving the president the necessary funds for the Department of Homeland Security," DeLay said. "Creating this department is a difficult undertaking, but often the things that are the most difficult in life are the things that most need to be done.

"If we are successful in preempting other attacks like those of September 11th, the creation of this new Department may eventually be seen as the most important step taken by Congress in decades."

This bill provides $43.9 billion for the operations and activities of the Department of Homeland Security during 2003 and $29.4 billion for 2004. This is an increase of 3.7 percent above the president's request and includes:

-- $4.4 billion for the Office of Domestic Preparedness, Firefighters and Emergency Management

-- $9 billion for border protection

-- $5.172 billion for transportation security

-- $900 million for science and technology research, development and deployment of innovative technologies

-- $776 million for protecting the nation's critical infrastructure and key assets

The House voted to create the Department of Homeland Security last July and the Senate passed it in November. This department includes over 170,000 employees and oversees the country's borders, aviation security and defense against bio-terrorism among other responsibilities. Today the House passed the Homeland Securities Appropriations bill 425-2.