WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Fiscal Year 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations bill passed by the House Appropriations Committee today secures funding for New Jersey and protects other programs important to New Jersey communities.  The bill targets critical programs such as aviation security, border and immigration enforcement, customs activities, protection against cyberterrorism, natural disaster response, and efforts to stop the smuggling of drugs and people into the U.S. The legislation also includes $5 billion for physical barriers and associated technology along the U.S. southern border.

“This Committee takes its role in safeguarding our homeland and protecting our citizens seriously. Globalization, cybersecurity, and terrorism are changing our way of life and we need to change with it. This bill fully supports our men and women on the frontline who work tirelessly to keep us safe. The bill also provides the necessary funding for critical technology and physical barriers to secure our borders. It is a balanced approach that enhances our preparedness,” Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) said.

The bill contains $17.8 billion in discretionary appropriations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – an increase of $3.8 billion above the fiscal year 2018 enacted level. These resources ensure our borders are protected by putting boots on the ground, improving infrastructure and technology, and helping to stem the flow of illegal goods both into and out of the country.

The legislation also recognizes recent controversies affecting children on the southern U.S. border.  

The bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure separated families units are reunited and are maintained together while in DHS custody

The bill provides $3.7 million to support a new initiative by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to provide mental health screening, triage and support to unaccompanied children at southwest border locations.

The bill requires robust reports from DHS on policies surrounding children and families and the process for reuniting families safely and effectively.

To respond to both natural and man-made disasters, the bill funds the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief account (DRF) at $7.2 billion.  This is the fund that was tapped for New Jersey after Superstorm Sandy.

The legislation also includes $3 billion for several FEMA grant programs:

The Urban Area Security Initiative, which assists high-threat, high-density Urban Areas like the New Jersey-New York Metropolitan Region in efforts to build and sustain the capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism, is funded at $661 million in the bill, a $31 million increase from FY 2018. 

In total, the bill includes $60 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NPSG).  Nonprofit Security Grants provide funding support for target hardening and other physical security enhancements to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack.   Synagogues, Jewish Community Centers and schools, including several in New Jersey, continue to be targeted.

$538 million is provided to the State Homeland Security Grant Program, a $31 million increase over FY 2018 which will assist states like New Jersey support terrorism preparedness.

The bill also includes $700 million for Firefighter Assistance Grants and $350 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants in our communities.

Urban Search and Rescue– The bill provides $45.33 million for Urban Search and Rescue, which funds 28 USR Teams including New Jersey Task Force 1 (NJ-TF 1).  This is a $10 million increase in FY 2018 funding directed to recapitalize critical equipment necessary to conduct life-saving search and rescue operations.

$7 million is included for Over-the-Road Bus Security Assistance Program, a significant increase in funding from FY 2018 levels. This program assists the bus industry, which conducts 630 million passenger trips per year, with security preparedness.  Transportation Security Administration (TSA) continues to cite vehicle ramming attacks as a significant point of concern for the industry.

Within the FEMA accounts, the legislation maintains robust funding for a number of programs that seek to reduce the risks of flooding, including Flood Mitigation Assistance Grants, Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grants and the Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program.

Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) University Programs– The legislation includes $40.5 million in funding for University Programs. This funding will be provided to all 10 DHS Centers of Excellence, including the Maritime Security Center (MSC) at Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT).  The MSC conducts innovative research, develops new tools and technologies and provides relevant maritime security-focused educational programs to enhance our nation's maritime domain awareness, the resiliency of our Marine Transportation System (MTS) and the technical skills of our current and prospective maritime security workforce.

Cybersecurity and Protection of Communications –To combat increasingly dangerous and frequent cyber-attacks, the bill includes a total of $1.9 billion for the National Protection and Programs Directorate to enhance critical infrastructure and prevent hacking.  Within this amount, $1.1 billion is provided to help secure civilian (.gov) networks, detect and prevent cyber-attacks and foreign espionage, and enhance and modernize emergency communications.

U.S. Coast Guard– The United States Coast Guard (USCG) patrols New Jersey waterways and shoreline, interdicts drug shipments and responds to accidents. The bill contains $9.3 billion for the USCG. The bill provides for a 2.6 percent military pay increase, and targets resources to improve readiness.

U.S. Secret Service- The bill provides $2.2 billion for the U.S. Secret Service an increase of $160 million from FY 2018 funding levels.  Included in this funding is $6 million to continue support for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Additionally, the bill enhances the work of the Newark Office of the Secret Service, which is actually located in Morristown.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)– While rejecting higher TSA aviation and passenger security fees, the bill includes $7.3 billion for TSA, which fully funds Transportation Security Officers ($3.3 billion) and privatized screening operations at airports. The bill includes $20 million above the budget request for the purchase and installation of approximately 240 new carry-on baggage screening systems to improve detection capabilities at airport checkpoints. The bill also includes funding above the request to hire, train, and deploy 50 new canine teams to further enhance security and expedite processing time.

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In total, the legislation directs $51.4 billion in discretionary funding for DHS, an increase of $3.7 billion above the fiscal year 2018 enacted level. In addition, the bill includes $6.7 billion – the same as the President’s request – for major disaster relief and emergency response activities through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

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