Miffed Congress cuts Homeland Security budget

WASHINGTON – Lawmakers cut nearly a half-billion dollars from the Homeland Security Department’s 2006 budget proposal on Wednesday for what they called repeated failures to update Congress on counterterror spending.

Another $310 million was ordered withheld until the department submits reports lawmakers have requested.

“The department has been a reluctant partner and has ignored requests for information,” said Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Ky., chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee that approved the Homeland Security spending bill. “It is a simple equation – no information equals no money.”

The House bill also eliminates $1.7 billion in fees to be generated by raising airline passenger costs $3 per ticket, a controversial proposal in President Bush’s budget that was to pay for security measures.

The U.S. Coast Guard took nearly all of the $485 million cut – it lost $466 million for its 20-year Deepwater project to modernize its ship and aircraft fleet. The bill also eliminates $11 million from the Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection directorate, Homeland Security’s intelligence arm.

In all, the bill appropriates $31.8 billion for Homeland Security – a 7 percent drop from the $34.1 billion the department requested.

Last year, lawmakers ordered Homeland Security to submit 240 reports to House and Senate appropriations committees. It is not unusual for agencies to miss some deadlines. However, Republican House aides said the department is avoiding congressional oversight through a systematic problem in meeting deadlines for at least a dozen key reports.

Homeland Security spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said the department has asked Congress to help it prioritize the reports.

The department’s budget request “reflects the administration’s continued commitment to preventing acts of terrorism protecting the homeland,” Roehrkasse said.

Funding ordered withheld includes:

“ $82 million for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol programs on container security and immigration, and salaries and expenses.

“ At least $54 million for Transportation Security Administration headquarters, including $4 million for “general lack of responsiveness.”

“ $40 million for the office of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. The department also must enact new air cargo screening standards and develop strategies to reduce the number of illegal immigrants in the United States to receive that money.

Coast Guard headquarters took an additional $5 million hit for “general lack of responsiveness,” according to a House breakdown of the funding reductions. In all, Deepwater would get only $500 million – down from the $966 million requested.