Dhs Appropriations

DHS Announces $260m in Supplemental Grants Funding

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a supplemental Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 grant guidance and application kits for three grant programs: the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP), Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP), and Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program. The supplemental announcement of $260 million is in addition to $567m awarded from the regular FY 2007 appropriations for these programs, totaling roughly $827m this fiscal year. The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-28) provided an additional $110 million for the PSGP, $100 million for the TSGP, and $50 million for the EMPG. Eligible applicants must apply for FY 2007 supplemental funding online. Grant guidance and eligibility criteria for the supplemental funds are also available online. Although dollar amounts to some areas have been determined, all applicants must still submit completed applications no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Aug. 29, 2007. As required by Congress, the department anticipates awarding supplemental grants by Sept. 30, 2007.

Port Security Grant Funds Available

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) said that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that it has made available an additional $110m in fiscal 2007 Port Security Grant funding. The money, to pay for security improvements in and around America's public ports, was part of a compromise Iraqi war appropriations supplemental bill that was signed into law last May. Currently, the Port Security Grant program divides eligible ports into four tiers, based on their perceived risk

Appropriations Process Delayed

The consideration of appropriations bills in the House and Senate slowed to a crawl during the last half of June. Six appropriations bills that had been reported from committee, including the Transportation Appropriations bill, were held up as a result. The House had previously cleared the transportation bill, which funds the USCG, so it will be ready for conference once the Senate acts. In the House, difficulties in keeping appropriations bills within the mandatory budget caps

Senate Approves FY 2006 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) praised the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee for approving the FY 2006 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, which would result in a major boost in security funding for America’s seaports. As part of the bill, the committee approved an amendment, offered by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), which would provide an additional $648 million in resources for radiation portal monitors, container inspections

CG Comments on Purchasing Authority

On Nov. 6, 2008, Rear Admiral Gary T. Blore, Assistant Commandant for Acquisition & Chief Acquisition Officer, commented on the status of U.S. Coast Guard’s purchasing authority: “On October 28 we posted a fact sheet (updated on November 4) that explained that DHS had rescinded acquisition [milestone] decision authority from the Coast Guard as recommended by the GAO and required in a recent legislation

DHS Report - Secure Transport Systems

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued the report of its examination of the DHS Plan for Implementing Secure Systems of Transportation. The report notes that the Department submitted its report to Congress two and one-half years late. The report addresses the status of a variety of DHS programs, including C-TPAT, CSI, ATS, ACE, SFI, ISPS, and MDA (the full names for all of these abbreviations are used in the report). OIG-09-03 (11/21/08).

DHS Awards Contracts for Advanced Radiography Equipment

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded contracts totaling an estimated $1.35 billion for development and acquisition of advanced radiography equipment to better detect radiological and nuclear threats at the nation’s points of entry. Source: HK Law

Congressional Appropriations Underway

Congress has begun the FY 00 appropriations process as both House and Senate committees made their 302(b) allocations and began to consider individual appropriations bills at the subcommittee and committee level. The 302(b) allocations are the method by which the appropriations committees divide te funds approved in the budget resolution among the 13 appropriations subcommittees. These allocations become the "pot" from which each subcommittee must dispense monies to various programs within

Delegations Related to Move of Customs Service to DHS

The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Treasury jointly published a regulation revising the title and structure of Title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect changes caused by transfer of the Customs Service from Treasury to DHS. 68 Fed. Reg. 51867 Source: HK Law

Chertoff Remarks on Maritime Security

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released remarks by Secretary Michael Chertoff regarding maritime security and related matters in light of the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai.  He noted that a small boat security initiative was started about 18 months ago and emphasized the importance of intelligence capability and information in deterring future attacks.  He stated that the nation needs a robust and prepared Coast Guard and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency