House Approves 63% Increase for Homeland Security R&D

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) could have more money to spend on science and tech initiatives in fiscal year (FY) 2004, thanks to a 63.1 percent increase in R&D funding approved Tuesday by the U.S. House of Representatives. Approximately $900.4 million – or $348.4 million more than the previous year – will go toward DHS's Science and Technology (S&T) budget in FY04. The Bush Administration had requested $803.4 million for the department's S&T budget.

In an accompanying report to the FY04 DHS Appropriations Bill, the House appropriations committee states DHS should work to develop new technologies and capabilities that protect U.S. soil. Excerpts of the committee's testimony on four R&D program areas are provided below:

• Science and Technology Activities. "The Department is directed to provide a report to the Committee by December 15, 2003, identifying all research, development, test and evaluation, and standards development work being performed by Departmental elements other than the Office of Science and Technology."
• Public Safety Technology Transfer Centers. "The Committee encourages Science and Technology to work with a public safety institute with experience in establishing and working with public safety-oriented technology centers to serve as a 'hub' for this network and to assist the Department in establishing the architecture and coordination of the Department's network of centers."
• Rapid Prototyping Program. "The Committee strongly supports this effort and has provided an additional $50,000,000 to encourage and support innovative solutions to enhance homeland security and engage the private sector in rapid prototyping of homeland security technologies."
• University or Fellowship Programs. "The Committee has provided an additional $25,000,000 for university-based centers of excellence . . . This additional funding will allow the Department to evaluate and fund more university proposals in fiscal year 2004. In addition to this program, universities will also have access to specific project funding in each of the other program areas on a competitive basis." The appropriation is $10 million above the President's request.

H.R. 2555, approved overwhelmingly in the House with a vote of 425-2, is now with the Senate Committee on Appropriations for its consideration.

SSTI extends its gratitude to The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Science Policy News for providing us the lead on this story. The bill and committee report, H. Report 108-169, are available at http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app04.html