Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2015 Homeland Security Bill

The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2015 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations bill on a bipartisan voice vote. The bill provides funding to help strengthen America’s homeland security efforts, including securing our borders, enforcing our laws, protecting against cyber threats, bolstering counternarcotic efforts, responding to natural disasters, and fighting terrorism.

The bill provides $39.2 billion in discretionary funding for DHS. This is a decrease of $50 million below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level, but an increase of $887.8 million above the President’s request for these programs. The bill also includes a total of $7 billion, the same as the President’s request, in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster funding to help states and communities respond and recover from unexpected disasters.

Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers made the following statement on the bill:

“First and foremost, this bill prioritizes funding for frontline security operations and enforcement – to keep our nation secure, to protect against those who seek to do us harm, and to punish those who violate the laws of our land,” Chairman Rogers said. “While tackling these serious issues, this bill actually tallies lower than last year’s bill – proof of the subcommittee’s commitment to weeding out excess, eliminating waste, and making responsible decisions to reduce spending.”

Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman John Carter also commented on the bill.

“I am proud that our bill puts border security first and promotes a strong message of enforcement and fiscal responsibility. Once again we are fighting against the President’s irresponsible and potentially disastrous budget proposal that deteriorates ICE’s ability to enforce our immigration laws and cuts funds to secure our border to dangerous levels,” Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman John Carter said. “This bill rejects the President’s attempt to undermine our laws and uses our funds in a fiscally responsible manner by pushing for reforms within DHS, like reducing ineffectual offices and programs, and requires the President to enforce current laws as they are written not as he would like them to be. Our Nation needs security, fiscal restraint, and enforcement which is what this bill offers.”

The following amendments to the bill were approved by the full committee today:

Rep. Carter – The amendment made technical and other non-controversial changes and additions to the report. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. Aderholt – The amendment restates current law prohibiting federal funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide for abortions, except in certain life-threatening cases, rape, and incest. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 29-18.

Rep. Roybal-Allard – The amendment allows funding to be used for death benefits of  a Transportation Security Officer killed in the line of duty in 2013. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

For the text of the bill, please visit: /uploadedfiles/bills-113hr-sc-ap-fy2015-hsecurity-subcommitteedraft.pdf

For the bill report, please visit: /uploadedfiles/hrpt-113-hr-fy2015-hsecurity.pdf

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