Highlights of President Bush's FY 2006 Budget Request For the Department of Homeland Security (Including CBP)

President Bush has requested $41.1 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an increase of 7% over enacted FY 2005 funding, excluding Project BioShield. The President's FY 2006 budget for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which is part of DHS, totals $6.7 billion, including $5.6 billion in appropriated resources and $1.1 billion in funding derived from user fees. According to CBP, this represents a nearly 4.8% budget increase - one of the highest in government.

The following are highlights from the President's budget for DHS (including CBP):

Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). The FY 2006 budget request includes $54.3 million for C-TPAT, including an additional $8.2 million which will be used for supply chain security specialists and increased supply chain security validations.

Container Security Initiative (CSI). The FY 2006 budget request also includes $138.8 million, including $5.4 million in new funding, to expand CSI in seven additional countries. According to DHS, Egypt, Chile, India, Philippines, Venezuela, Bahamas, and Honduras have been identified as pilots for screening in FY 2006.

The FY 2006 budget continues support for both CSI Phase I (implementation at the top 20 foreign ports) and Phase II (expansion to additional ports based on volume, location, and strategic concerns, as well as Phase III (capacity building at several higher-risk ports of entry).

CBP Targeting Systems. The budget request includes a total of $28.3 million for CBP's automated targeting systems, including a $5.4 million increase to enhance CBP's targeting and risk analysis capabilities.

Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). The FY 2006 budget request includes $305.5 million in ACE funding and $16.2 million in International Trade Data System (ITDS) funding to continue the multi-year modernization of CBP"s trade management systems. As in previous years, obligation of this ACE funding would require that specified Congressional committees receive an expenditure plan prepared by the Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security (BTS) that meets certain specified requirements.

Establishment of a regional structure. The President's FY 2006 budget for DHS includes $49.9 million to begin to establish a regional structure for DHS and integrate and identify efficiencies within information technology, facilities, and operations centers across DHS.

Formation of Office of Screening Coordination and Operations (SCO). The FY 2006 budget proposes to consolidate the various DHS screening activities with the formation of the SCO within the Border and Transportation Security (BTS) directorate.

This new organization would enhance terrorist-related screening through comprehensive, coordinated, procedures that detect, identify, track and interdict people, cargo, and other entities and objects that pose a threat to homeland security. This effort to integrate existing resources to work more efficiently, brings together several similar ongoing screening efforts under one office, including: Free and Secure Trade (FAST); U.S.-Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT); NEXUS/Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI); Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC); Hazardous Materials Trucker Background Checks; Registered Traveler; Alien Flight School Checks; and Secure Flight and Crew Vetting.

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Detection Technology. The President's budget includes $137 million for WMD detection technology, including $125 million to purchase of Radiation Portal Monitors (RPMs) and pilot advanced next generation RPMs to detect both gamma and neutron radiation at U.S. borders.

America's Shield Initiative (ASI). The FY 2006 budget request includes $51.1 million for ASI, including $19.8 million for new investments. ASI enhances electronic surveillance capabilities along the northern and southern U.S. land borders by improving the sensor and video surveillance equipment deployed to guard against the entry of illegal aliens, terrorists, WMDs, and contraband into the U.S.

Proposed Targeted Infrastructure Protection program. The Targeted Infrastructure Protection program proposed in the FY 2006 budget would provide $600 million in integrated grants, enabling DHS to supplement state, local, and regional government efforts in their protection of critical national infrastructures such as seaports, railways, mass transit, and energy facilities.

US-VISIT. The FY 2006 budget includes an increase for US-VISIT from $340 million to $390 million. This increase would provide for the accelerated deployment of US-VISIT at land borders and enhance access for border personnel to immigration, criminal, and terrorist information.

Increased Border Patrol staffing. The FY 2006 budget provides $36.9 million for 210 additional Border Patrol Agents, directly supporting the strategic goal to increase and extend control of the borders between the ports of entry.

Air and Marine Operations. The FY 2006 budget would also provide $293 million for operations and maintenance of CBP's air and marine infrastructure to identify, deter, interdict, and investigate acts of terrorism and smuggling arising from unlawful movement of people and goods into and out of the U.S.

Homeland Security Data Network (HSDN). The FY 2006 budget request includes $37 million to streamline and modernize the classified data capabilities in order to facilitate high quality and high value classified data communication and collaboration.

Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC). The FY 2006 budget request includes a $26.3 million increase for the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) and an increase of $12.9 million to enhance HSOC systems and operations.

DHS fact sheet on FY 2006 budget request available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=43&content=4337&print=true,

CBP press release on the FY 2006 budget (dated 02/07/05) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/02082005.xml.

President's FY 2006 budget materials for DHS and all other federal government agencies are available at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/.