FY04 DHS Budget Moves Out of Conference

Appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have emerged out of the conference committee for consideration and final approval by Congress — one of three budget bills likely to be passed before the fiscal year ends next Tuesday.

Demonstrating anything can happen during the conference between the two chambers, the final budget for the Science and Technology Directorate came out higher than either the Senate or House had approved in separate versions of the DHS appropriations bill. The Directorate, responsible for DHS research activities, is poised to receive $918 million, $7 million above the House level and $52 million above the Senate budget. The majority of the change, however, is relocating nearly $40 million in administration and management expenses to fall within the Directorate.

The University Program and Homeland Security Fellowships Program received $70 million, $60 million more than the Administration requested. The Association of American Universities (AAU) reports the amount is $15 million above the House level and $35 million above the Senate's. [Editor's Note: Given the academic pork article in this issue of the Digest, it is worth noting that none of the $70 million for the university program is earmarked. In fact, the conferees go so far as to write: "The conferees encourage the Department to consider all colleges and universities that meet the requirements of 6.U.S.C 188 in the selection of university-based centers, including historically black colleges and universities, tribal colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, and Alaskan Native-serving institutions." ]

On a related note, AAU also reports the second round of competition for the university centers will begin this fall. Future centers are expected to focus on "behavioral research on terrorism and countermeasures, public health and safety technology transfer, agro-bioterrorism countermeasures, and response technologies and operations," AAU writes.

Other highlights of the $874 million science and R&D portion of the Science and Technology Directorate Budget include:

• $198 million for biological countermeasures. In addition, the report authorizes the use of $68 million of unobligated FY03 funds;
• $127 million for nuclear and radiological countermeasures (consistent with the Administration's request except for a $3 million reduction in sensor R&D);
• $93.5 million for threat and vulnerability, testing and assessment (cybersecurity is increased $11 million above the Administration's request while the remaining programs are reduced by a total of $3 million);
• $88 million to construct a National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center at Fort Derrick in Maryland;
• $75 million for the rapid prototyping program/technical support working group ($45 million above the request);
• $66.5 million for critical infrastructure protection ($60 million reserved for antimissile device for commercial aircraft);
• $52 million for chemical countermeasures;
• $39 million for standards/state and local program;
• $34 million for conventional missions to support DHS, including border security, secret service, and emergency preparedness and response;
• $21 million for emerging threats; and,
• $9.5 million for high explosives countermeasures.

Additionally, the conference report provides:

• $155.2 million for transportation security R&D, $45 million of which is targeted toward explosive detection devices, $55 million is for air cargo security and the $55.2 million balance is for the Tech Center. The total is $29.5 million higher than the House-approved level and $25 million above the Senate-approved level.
• $15 million for Coast Guard research, development, test and evaluation activities. The amount is $7 million less than the House provided. The Senate version of the bill had moved the Coast Guard research activities to be part of the Science and Technology Directorate.

The full 132-page, marked-up DHS conference report (#108-280) is available on the House Committee on Rules website: http://www.house.gov/rules/homeland.pdf