FY2010 DHS budgetNYC to receive $50 million for radiation detection

As we reported yesterday, the House, despite GOP procedural delays, passed the FY2010 homeland security appropriations bill late Wednesday. Allocating about $42.6 billion in discretionary spending for the department, the bill passed 389-37. “This bill will enable our government to better protect the American people against all major threats,” Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee chairman David Price (D-North Carolina), said during debate.

CongressDaily’s Chris Strohm writes that Republicans complained they were being shut out by Democrats from offering amendments to spending bills.

Although the homeland security bill was not controversial, Republicans used procedural tactics, including motions to adjourn, to delay floor proceedings.

Democrats allowed thirteen GOP amendments, but most failed on party-line votes. Three Republican amendments offered by Appropriations ranking member Jerry Lewis and Representatives Peter King of New York and Gus Bilirakis of Florida were adopted as voting began.

Lewis’a amendment shifted $34 million to hire 200 more Border Patrol agents; King added $50 million to restore funding for the Securing the Cities program, created to place radiological and nuclear sensors around New York City; and Bilirakis shifted $1.7 million to increase funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The bill allocates about $2.6 billion more than last year, but is $200 million below President Obama’s request. The measure includes about $10 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection; $10 billion for the Coast Guard; $7.7 billion for the Transportation Security Administration; $3.55 billion in first responder grants; and $5.4 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Senate had not yet brought its version of the spending bill to the floor due to procedural delays.