Homeland Security: The Play-by-Play
The Play-by-Play began as a summary of the debate over a Department of Homeland Security. It has broadened its focus to include the department’s implementation, and analysis of political events as they relate to homeland security.
Debate of Fiscal Year 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations Act Continues
Now in its third day, the Senate continues to consider the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill (HR 2555). Democrats have proposed numerous amendments to increase spending in a variety of areas, especially for port security and first responders. Thus far, Republicans have defeated all the amendments adding funding to the bill or shifting money between accounts. Several amendments that require reports and express the sense of the Senate have passed unanimously.
Earlier this afternoon, Democrats and Republicans agreed to discuss and vote on a finite number of of amendments. It is not known when the Senate will finish with the remaining amendments and vote on the bill, but managers would like to finish sometime this evening.
Listed below are amendments the Senate has considered thus far:
Amendment 1317
Sponsor: Senator Robert Byrd, WV-D
Would provide $238.5 million for Customs and Border Protection, of which $100 million is for border ports of entry infrastructure and $138.5 million is to staff the northern border; $100 million for the TSA for air cargo security; $532 million for Maritime and Land Security, of which $57 million is for public transit, $460 million for port security to implement Maritime Transportation Security Act, and $15 million for intercity bus security grants; an additional $70 million to USCG for operating expenses to implement Maritime Transportation Security Act; $729.5 million for Office of Domestic Preparedness, of which $250 million for Patriot Act programs, $250 million for high threat urban areas, $79.5 million for interoperable communications equipment, and $150 million for firefighter grants; and $80 million for the Office of the Under Secretary for Information for Analysis Infrastructure Protection.
Vote: Failed 43-50
Amendment 1327
Sponsor: Senator Patty Murray, WA-D
Increases amount for emergency management performance grants from $165 million to $265 million. Vote: Failed 45-53
Amendment 1328
Sponsor: Senator Barbara Boxer, CA-D
Requires a report from the Secretary of Homeland Security by March 1 on progress made toward developing countermeasures for commercial aircraft against shoulder fired missile systems. Vote: Passed by voice vote
Amendment 1329
Sponsor: Senator Diane Feinstein, CA-D
Makes it a crime to commit a terrorist act against a ship or in a port.
Vote: Ruled out of order
Amendment 1331
Sponsor: Senator Barbara Boxer, CA-D
Requires a classified report from the Secretary of Homeland Security by March 1 on costs incurred by state and local officials due to security requests of Secret Service in protecting and transporting foreign and domestic officials.
Vote: Passed 79-19
Amendment 1336
Sponsor: Senator Mark Dayton, MN-D
None of the funds appropriated to DHS may be spent in contravention of the Buy American Act, which is meant to serve as an economic stimulus to by goods made in America.
Vote: Passed on voice vote
Amendment 1341
Sponsor: Senator Fritz Hollings, SC-D
Increase amount for port security from $150 million to $450 million and reduce amount for information analysis and infrastructure protection from $823.7 million to $523.7 million.
Vote: Tabled 50-48
Amendment 1343
Sponsor: Senator Charles Schumer, NY-D Provide additional $70 million for research and development of nuclear detection devices. Vote: Failed 45-51 Amendment 1344 Sponsor: Senator Frank Lautenberg, NJ-D Requires a report from the Secretary of Homeland Security on the Homeland Security Advisory System 90 days after passage of the bill.
Vote: Passed on voice vote
Amendment 1346
Sponsor: Senator Barbara Mikulski, MD-D
Would increase amount of firefighter assistance grants from $750 million to $900 million.
Vote: Failed 48-49
Amendment 1348
Sponsor: Senator Hillary Clinton, NY-D
Expresses opinion of Senate that future allocations for grants to states, specifically those done under authority of Patriot Act, should be done based on the level of threat in that state rather than the per capita basis used currently
Vote: Withdrawn
Amendment 1350
Sponsor: Senator Jon Corzine, NJ-D
Adds $80 million to the Office of the Undersecretary for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection specifically for the purpose of conducting chemical facility security assessments.
Vote: Failed 43-52
Amendment 1351
Sponsor: Senator Charles Schumer, NY-D
Increase salaries and expenses for Border Protection and Security Directorate from $4.366 billion to $4.566 billion, with the $200 million increase specifically earmarked for northern border personnel.
Vote: Failed 45-51 on procedural vote
(Amendments 1353 thru 1359 were considered en bloc and passed by voice vote)
Amendment 1353
Sponsor: Senator Jeff Bingaman, MT-D
Requires a report from the Secretary of Homeland Security 180 days after passing Homeland Security Appropriations Act on the problems of SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System) and actions being taken to correct those problems.
Amendment 1354
Sponsor: Senator Christopher Dodd, CT-D
Maintains FY03 levels of spending for Coast Guard Research and Development Center, requires report on the research and development organization of the Coast Guard as well as recommendations for the design of a new research and development organization.
Amendment 1355
Sponsor: Senator Robert Byrd, WV-D
Changes GAO reporting requirement regarding report on privacy protections in TSA’s CAPPS II program to either 60 days after adoption of Act or 60 days after the Secretary publishes privacy notices for CAPPS II in Federal Register
Amendment 1356
Sponsor: Senator Patty Murray, WA-D Specifically earmarks $3.5 million for defense message system implementation and $1 million for oil spill prevention under the Ports and Waterways Security System (PAWSS).
Amendment 1357
Sponsor: Senator Harry Reid, NV-D
Sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Homeland Security should take into account tourist population as a factor when determining resource needs and potential vulnerabilities for the purpose of allocating funds for discretionary and formula grants.
Amendment 1358
Sponsor: Senator Kent Conrad, ND-D
Requires Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response to report within 30 days on any outstanding claims from the University of North Dakota relating to the 1997 floods.
Amendment 1359
Sponsor: Senator John Edwards, NC-D Requires the Under Secretary of Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection report within 120 days on vulnerability of 250 largest sports and entertainment facilities.
Amendment 1367
Sponsor: Senator Robert Byrd
Increase port security grants by $100 million, $42 million for the Coast Guard to implement the Marine Transportation Security Act, $100 million for firefighter assistance grants, and to offset these costs reduce Office of the Under Secretary for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection from $823.7 million to $581.7 million.
Vote: Tabled 51-45
Amendment 1368
Sponsor: Senator Charles Schumer, NY-D
Raise amount available for high threat urban areas from $750 million to $1 billion.
Vote: Failed 50-46
Amendment 1370
Sponsor: Senator Alan Spector, PA-D
Would raise grants for high threat urban areas from $750 million to $1 billion, that would be offset by reductions of $62.640 million in Science, Technology, Research and Development, and $187.36 million from the Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate.
Vote: Failed 48-48
Amendment 1372
Sponsor: Senator Jack Reed, RI-D
Allocates $100 million for transit security.