It’s Christmas For Homeland Security When it Comes to Stimulus Package

By Rich Cooper
Security DeBrief
WASHINGTON — Let it never be said that giving out Christmas presents has to happen just one day a year. In fact, it can occur any time the Congress and President are in the spending mood and, boy oh boy, are they in the spending mood.
Below is what will be signed into law (anticipated on Monday) and needless to say DHS has not been ignored or forgotten when it comes being a ‘stimulator’ for the nation’s ailing economy.

TITLE VI-DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of the Under Secretary for Management

For an additional amount for the ‘Office of the Under Secretary for Management’, $198,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2011, solely for planning, design, and construction costs, including site security, information technology infrastructure, fixtures, and related costs to consolidate the Department of Homeland Security headquarters: Provided, That no later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Administrator of General Services, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives a plan for the expenditure of these funds.

office of inspector general

For an additional amount for the ‘Office of Inspector General’, $5,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2012, for oversight and audit of programs, grants, and projects funded under this title.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

salaries and expenses

For an additional amount for ‘Salaries and Expenses’, $198,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, of which $100,800,000 shall be for the procurement and deployment of non-intrusive inspection systems to improve port security; and of which $97,200,000 shall be for procurement and deployment of tactical communications equipment and radios: Provided, That no later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives a plan for expenditure of these funds.

border security fencing, infrastructure, and technology

For an additional amount for ‘Border Security Fencing, Infrastructure, and Technology’, $200,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, for expedited development and deployment of border security technology on the Southwest border: Provided, That no later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives a plan for expenditure of these funds.

construction

For an additional amount for ‘Construction’, $800,000,000, to remain available until expended, solely for planning, management, design, alteration, and construction of U.S. Customs and Border Protection owned land border ports of entry: Provided, That no later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives a plan for expenditure of these funds.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

automation modernization

For an additional amount for ‘Automation Modernization’, $27,800,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, for the procurement and deployment of tactical communications equipment and radios: Provided, That no later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives a plan for expenditure of these funds.

Transportation Security Administration

aviation security

For an additional amount for ‘Aviation Security’, $1,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, for procurement and installation of checked baggage explosives detection systems and checkpoint explosives detection equipment: Provided, That no later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives a plan for the expenditure of these funds.

Coast Guard

acquisition, construction, and improvements

For an additional amount for ‘Acquisition, Construction, and Improvements’, $450,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, of which $195,000,000 shall be for shore facilities and aids to navigation facilities; and of which $255,000,000 shall be for priority procurements due to materials and labor cost increases, and to repair, renovate, assess, or improve vessels: Provided, That amounts made available for the activities under this heading shall be available for all necessary expenses related to the oversight and management of such activities: Provided further, That no later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives a plan for the expenditure of these funds.

alteration of bridges

For an additional amount for ‘Alteration of Bridges’, $240,400,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, for alteration or removal of obstructive bridges, as authorized by section 6 of the Truman-Hobbs Act (33 U.S.C. 516): Provided, That no later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives a plan for the expenditure of these funds.

Federal Emergency Management Agency

management and administration

For an additional amount for ‘Management and Administration’, $6,000,000 for the acquisition of communications response vehicles to be deployed in response to a disaster or a national security event.

state and local programs

For an additional amount for grants, $950,000,000, to be allocated as follows:

(1) $100,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, for Public Transportation Security Assistance, Railroad Security Assistance, and Systemwide Amtrak Security Upgrades under sections 1406, 1513, and 1514 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-53; 6 U.S.C. 1135, 1163, and 1164).

(2) $100,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, for Port Security Grants in accordance with 46 U.S.C. 70107, notwithstanding 46 U.S.C. 70107(c).

(3) $250,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, for upgrading, modifying, or constructing emergency operations centers under section 614 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, notwithstanding section 614(c) of that Act or for upgrading, modifying, or constructing State and local fusion centers as defined by section 210A(j)(1) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 124h(j)(1)).

(4) $500,000,000 for construction to upgrade or modify critical infrastructure, as defined in section 1016(e) of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)), to mitigate consequences related to potential damage from all-hazards: Provided, That funds in this paragraph shall remain available until September 30, 2011: Provided further, That 5 percent shall be for program administration: Provided further, That no later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives a plan for expenditure of these funds.

firefighter assistance grants

For an additional amount for competitive grants, $500,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, for modifying, upgrading, or constructing State and local fire stations: Provided, That up to 5 percent shall be for program administration: Provided further, That no grant shall exceed $15,000,000.

disaster assistance direct loan program account

Notwithstanding section 417(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, the amount of any such loan issued pursuant to this section for major disasters occurring in calendar year 2008 may exceed $5,000,000, and may be equal to not more than 50 percent of the annual operating budget of the local government in any case in which that local government has suffered a loss of 25 percent or more in tax revenues: Provided, That the cost of modifying such loans shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 661a).

emergency food and shelter

For an additional amount to carry out the emergency food and shelter program pursuant to title III of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11331 et seq.), $100,000,000: Provided, That total administrative costs shall not exceed 3.5 percent of the total amount made available under this heading.

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

acquisition, construction, improvements, and related expenses

For an additional amount for ‘Acquisition, Construction, Improvements, and Related Expenses’, $15,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, for security systems and law enforcement upgrades for all Federal Law Enforcement Training Center facilities: Provided, That no later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives a plan for the expenditure of these funds.

GENERAL PROVISIONS-THIS TITLE

Sec. 601. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President shall establish an arbitration panel under the Federal Emergency Management Agency public assistance program to expedite the recovery efforts from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike within the Gulf Coast Region. The arbitration panel shall have sufficient authority regarding the award or denial of disputed public assistance applications for covered hurricane damage under section 403, 406, or 407 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b, 5172, or 5173) for a project the total amount of which is more than $500,000.

Sec. 602. The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may not prohibit or restrict the use of funds designated under the hazard mitigation grant program for damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita if the homeowner who is an applicant for assistance under such program commenced work otherwise eligible for hazard mitigation grant program assistance under section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c) without approval in writing from the Administrator.