Hal Rogers

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. The gentleman is exactly correct. In fact, in the 2002 period of time we were requesting the new baseline. We did that in 2003. And then in the 2005 bill finally, we wrote it into the law that said you shall furnish the rebaselining on a such and so date. That time has long past gone. We still do not have it. What else can we do? I am open to all ideas, but I think the only weapon we have left is withholding funds.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I will be happy to work with the gentleman. He has been a very diligent Member of this body, and I appreciate the information he is providing to us now. We will work with the gentleman to try to get at the problem he describes here.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to be here today to present the fiscal 2006 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The first chapter for the Department of Homeland Security has been written. Progress has been made, and our country is safer today than it was before September 11. In 2 years the Department has developed and deployed new technologies to inspect cargo at our seaports and detect hazards in our environment. US-VISIT has been put in place at all international airports and seaports; a one-stop shop for first responders has been created; more than 90,000 national assets have been catalogued in a national infrastructure database; and a communications system with State and local governments is in place. These are important accomplishments, but they are not enough. There is a great deal of work to be done, and it is time to write the next chapter. The bill before us today provides $30.8 billion in discretionary funds for the upcoming fiscal year, $1.4 billion above the current year and $1.3 billion above the amounts requested by the President. There are some tough choices in here, but they have been made after a careful review of how the Department is functioning, which programs work, and which ones, quite frankly, are broken. Nearly 2 years ago, when the Department was first created and came before the Committee on Appropriations seeking funds, I made it clear that homeland security requires the active engagement of all Americans and all branches of government; that we are all stakeholders and must be treated as such. I also advised that the Committee on Appropriations would be a partner as the Department sought to secure our homeland, that we would not be casual bystanders willing to sign a blank check. I have consistently and repeatedly told the Department that we would require accountability and cooperation, that we would expect them to establish and meet specific milestones, that we would watch and measure their progress. We have done that, exactly that. And, frankly, Mr. Chairman, I am disappointed. I have come to the conclusion that there are two fundamental challenges within this Department. First, DHS has been slow to build its internal capabilities. The information technology infrastructure has not been integrated. There is no system in place to develop, certify, and transfer homeland security technologies. A financial management system that tracks where the money goes does not exist, and there is only a limited capacity to put first responder funds out on the street based on standards and minimum levels of preparedness. Second, the Department has not been successful at revising missions and assets of legacy organizations in a way that reflects the post-9/11 homeland security environment. All too many examples come to mind: the Coast Guard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Protection, and Transportation Security. In too many cases it is just business as usual. Missions and threats have changed, but the Department has not. This is unacceptable. The ``business as usual'' mentality has to go. The bill before us is anything but business as usual. The Department has been a reluctant partner and has ignored requests for information and direction to move expeditiously in the implementation of important national policies and goals. This became all too obvious this year when the Department ignored Congressional requests for comprehensive information on the Coast Guard's important Deepwater program. The Department will find that that lack of information has cost them. Absent a revised baseline that reflects post-9/11 mission requirements for the Coast Guard, Deepwater is being funded at pre-9/11 levels, $500 million. That is $466 million below the request. It is a simple equation, Mr. Chairman: No information equals no money. Throughout this bill, we will see this equation applied. There are more than $485 million in cuts because the Congress did not get the information we needed to make informed decisions about programs and operations. There is also more than $310 million in fenced funding, until the Department performs certain actions, including implementation of new air cargo screening methods and standards, an immigration and border security enforcement strategy, and a plan to deploy explosive detection technologies to our Nation's airports. Within this bill, first responders are funded at the President's requested level of $3.6 billion. I would like to point out that there continues to be problems at the local, State, and Federal levels in terms of getting money actually out to first responders. We have recently learned, Mr. Chairman, that only 30 percent of the funds that we have appropriated since 2002, have been spent. Including the 2005 grant money, there is $6.8 billion in the grant pipeline. Mr. Chairman, that is unacceptable. The bill does not propose any changes to the current formula as to how those monies are dealt out, but it does recognize that legislation which passed this Chamber last week is moving through the process. The appropriations bill will allow 2006 funding to go out based on any formula change that may be signed into law. The bill also presumes that if new formulas do not go into effect, the Department would maintain the minimum allocation for States of .75 percent. The balance of that fund, though, would go out based on risk, threat, and need; not, as it has in the past, based solely on population. That is a fundamental change in the way first responder monies would go out. The bill also includes a significant increase for border security and immigration enforcement. A total of $1.2 billion is added for the Customs and Border Patrol and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement branches. That funding is on top of the $550 million that was provided in the emergency supplemental just signed. Between that supplemental and this bill, we will be providing the Department with the resources to hire an additional 1,500 border patrol agents and 568 ICE officers throughout the country. Funds are also available to add some 3,870 detention beds, which would be roughly a 20 percent increase over current levels. Also, funds are available for new radiation portal monitors and air assets. These funds, though, Mr. Chairman, would come with strings attached. Our immigration enforcement strategy needs an overhaul. Despite more than tripling spending on border security and immigration enforcement in the last 10 years, the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. has more than doubled, an unbelievable 11 million estimated illegal aliens in the country; and that number is growing by a half a million a year, by conservative estimates. And of that total, there are more than 465,000 absconders, people who have been caught, brought to court, released on their own recognizance to report at a later date, which they fail to do. And of those, 80,000 of them have criminal records. Those numbers, Mr. Chairman, will only get worse unless we act. Immigration enforcement is one of the most critical components of homeland security, yet the Department's current strategy has changed little since the days of the old Immigration and Naturalization Service. In order to inspire change, the bill includes language requiring the Secretary to submit an immigration enforcement strategy to reduce the number of undocumented aliens by 10 percent per year. The bill withholds $20 million of the Secretary's office funds until we receive that strategy. Finally, for transportation security, the bill includes $6.4 billion, partially offset by fees, which is an increase of $344 million above the current year. The bill includes several provisions that address years of frustration in dealing with the Transportation Security Administration. For too long, TSA and others have ignored congressional direction regarding general aviation at Reagan National Airport. A legislative provision is included, after these 3 or 4 years of discussions, requiring the Secretary to open Reagan National Airport to general aviation within 90 days of enactment of this act. The committee also has repeatedly asked for a plan as to how TSA would be installing the explosive detection systems, the so-called x- ray machines, at our airports. Again, TSA has ignored the Congress. In addition to providing $495 million for the purchase and installation of these x-ray machines, the committee fences $50 million of the administrator's funds until an installation plan is provided to the Congress. Finally, the bill provides $100 million for cargo security in passenger planes. TSA has ignored congressional directions to triple the screening of air cargo on passenger aircraft. As a result, the committee reduces the appropriation for TSA headquarters by $100,000 for each day that the tripling of air cargo is not implemented. The bill also fences another $10 million until new cargo screening standards and protocols are implemented. These next few years, Mr. Chairman, will define the Department's place in history. This bill may be tough, and I admit that it is, but I hope it is a wakeup call. It is time to take strong action to ensure that the Department's place in history and our safety will be one of success and leadership in securing our homeland and not one of government bureaucracy and failed opportunities. It is now time for action. I appreciate that the bill includes several tough provisions. I am aware that the new Secretary is in the process of completing what he calls a second-stage review of the Department's programs and operations. I am pleased about that. While I have great respect and confidence in the Department's new leadership, and we look forward to receiving any recommendations the Secretary may have to move the Department forward, we cannot ignore the fundamental problems that we have been experiencing with this Department since its creation. I urge my colleagues to support the measure. [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH17MY05.001 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH17MY05.002 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH17MY05.003 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH17MY05.004 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH17MY05.005 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH17MY05.006 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH17MY05.007 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH17MY05.008 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH17MY05.009 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH17MY05.010 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH17MY05.011 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH17MY05.012 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH17MY05.013 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH17MY05.014 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH17MY05.015 Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky, Mr. Chairman, I submit the following exchange of letters for the Record. House of Representatives, Committee on Appropriations, Washington, DC, May 17, 2005. Hon. Bill Thomas, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Thomas. Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 2360, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2006. As you have noted, the bill is scheduled for floor consideration on Tuesday, May 17, 2005. I appreciate your agreement to expedite the passage of this legislation although it contains a provision involving overtime pay that falls within your Committee's jurisdiction. I appreciate your decision to forgo further action on the bill and acknowledge that it will not prejudice the Committee on Ways and Means with respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on this or similar legislation. Our committees have worked closely together on this important initiative, and I am very pleased we are continuing that cooperation. I appreciate your helping us to move this legislation quickly to the floor. Finally, I will include in the Congressional Record a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter. Thank you for your assistance and cooperation. We look forward to working with you in the future. Best regards, Harold Rogers, Chairman.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, when the gentleman first described to me the ``catch-and-release'' policy and how it has affected the border communities, I was surprised to learn that the Department had not made full use of its authority. I understand that doing so will not only allow the Department to remove OTMs two to three times faster than traditional methods while permitting legitimate asylum claims, but would cut detention costs for such individuals by more than 50 percent.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Perhaps the gentleman can withdraw the amendment and we will have a chance to work on it further.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Reclaiming my time, that is correct, and this is where the staff is now located. So it would have to come out of the Chief of Staff's operating budget.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I want to compliment the gentleman from California (Chairman Lewis) and the other conferees for giving us a whole new effort, a major effort to try to control the borders and to deal with the massive illegal immigration problem that the country is facing. We have 11 million estimated illegal aliens in the country, and 800,000 or so of them are people who have been ordered deported and yet have absconded. Eighty thousand of those have criminal records. This bill, when combined with the homeland security appropriations bills for 2006 that we marked up yesterday in the subcommittee, those two bills combined will give us a new, massive effort to deal with the problem. These two bills will give us 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, 568 new Immigration and Customs enforcement officers throughout the country, and some 3,900 new jail bed space to try to deal with this massive, overwhelming problem. I want to commend the chairman for having the foresight, along with the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) and the other members of the conference, for giving us the new capability to tackle a problem that is proving to be very elusive. So I compliment the chairman, and I urge everyone to support this bill.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, March 20, I was tending to official business and was not present for rollcall vote No. 90. The vote was on S. 686. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on the measure.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Chairman, it is my understanding that the Stafford Act authorizes the removal of wreckage and debris resulting from a major disaster from both public and private lands when the President determines that it is in the public interest.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Chairman, House Report 108-773 which accompanied the Military Construction Emergency Hurricane Supplemental Bill stated, ``The conferees agree to provide an additional $6.5 billion for disaster relief activities associated with declared disasters such as Hurricanes Frances, Ivan and Jeanne.'' Supplemental funds appropriated in the wake of the four hurricanes may be used by FEMA in administering relief to stricken communities and victims in areas such as Florida where the President declared disaster areas that meet current statutory eligibility under the Stafford Act.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3. This is a jobs bill, a security bill and, most importantly, a lifesaving bill. Unlike his predecessor, Chairman Young has not had the luxury of a new revenue stream to address the challenge of negotiating a new formula and numerous priorities. It has been a tough job, but I applaud the Chairman's tenacity and that of the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and the others on the committee leading to what I think is an excellent product. I am pleased to say that Kentucky will be receiving a fairer share and more funding to address our substantial needs, and for that, I am very grateful. I would also like to thank Chairman Young for including $35 million to continue work on the Interstate 66 projects in Kentucky, a vital national east-west corridor. The eventual and inevitable completion of I-66 will create a seamless and safer expressway from the coal beds of West Virginia to the corn fields of Missouri. I-66 will fill gaps in our national highway system and open up commerce to the Appalachian areas. Most importantly, this route will reduce the dangers of everyday travel for my constituents and the increasing number of visitors to the mountains in my district. Finally, I want to thank the committee for continuing our commitment to the Appalachian Development Highway System. The benefits of this road development program to communities in my district cannot be understated. Communities have been reborn, businesses started, and health care received because of this investment. Over $2 billion will be invested to a commitment made to the Appalachian communities over 40 years ago, and I thank the committee for including these monies, especially for the Appalachian region. This is a good bill, Mr. Chairman. I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation and let us get on with it.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I ask the members of this distinguished body to join me in remembering Virgil ``Sonny'' Daffron, an upstanding resident of the Fifth Congressional District of Kentucky. Sonny passed away on December 27, 2004, at the age of 79. Ever since he was a boy growing up in Junction City, Kentucky, Sonny Daffron never met a stranger. Anyone who knew him would agree that he was one of the friendliest people who ever lived. His outgoing personality served as a source of joy and inspiration for all those he encountered. He took this friendly demeanor with him to Wayne County, Kentucky, where he lived with his family during his school years. It was there that he found the love of his life, Marcia Frances Kelsay. Sonny and Marcia were a match made in heaven. Sonny would recount stories of how he'd walk past the Kelsay home numerous times each day hoping to catch a glimpse of his sweetheart. Although Sonny's brave service in the United States Navy took him away from Marcia from 1943 to 1946, his love for her did not falter. He promised himself that when he returned home, he would make Marcia his wife. He kept that promise, and on April 6, 1947, Sonny and Marcia were married. In addition to being a faithful husband, Sonny was a loving father to four children: Danny Moore, Annette Susan, Stephen Denton and David Scott. He was also ``PePaw'' to five granddaughters, three grandsons, two great-granddaughters and one great-grandson. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of Sonny Daffron. While he will be sorely missed, I am confident his legacy wi11 live on forever in the hearts and minds of his loving family and many friends.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the true diamonds working inside the rough and tumble granite rock of the Federal Government that will be leaving her post on January 31, 2005. The gem I'm referring to is Adair County, Kentucky, native and USDA Rural Utilities Service Administrator, Hilda Gay Legg. I had the privilege of working closely with Hilda prior to her appointment to RUS. She served as executive director and CEO of the Center for Rural Development in Somerset, Kentucky, from 1994 until October 2001. Hilda provided true leadership by turning an upstart conference site into a world class community-oriented interactive center. In that position, she helped develop and implement a broadband telecommunications program in rural communities throughout southern and eastern Kentucky. The Center grew to manage 40 Internet centers that offer high speed, interactive video conferencing and community access to computers. Thanks to the solid foundation built by Hilda, those activities continue today. In 2001, President George W. Bush tapped Hilda as the 15th person, and first woman, to serve as the Administrator of the Rural Electrification Administration--Rural Utilities Service. Shortly thereafter, Congress passed the landmark 2002 Farm Bill which in turn launched a number of new RUS initiatives including a broadband loan and grant program, energy efficiency grants, weather radio grants, and local television guarantees. Hilda took these new responsibilities in stride, leading the agency with professionalism and accomplishing much of our agenda. While Administrator, Hilda approved some 5,570 loans and grants totaling nearly $20 billion. These funds will improve water quality in communities throughout America, provide access to top-level treatment in our rural health clinics, and give our schools Internet access to the world. Under her faithful and deliberate watch RUS programs increased by nearly 60 percent while loan delinquency was a mere .1 percent. Hilda's leadership also improved loan processing efficiency, set in motion an intense review of risk management, and accomplished much toward President Bush's goals in the areas of efficient and effective management, broadband deployment, energy independence, and job creation in rural America. Hilda has never ceased to serve as an advocate for rural America and she has done so with remarkable class, spunk, and spirit. As her legacy still remains at the Center for Rural Development, I am confident it will also remain at RUS and in communities throughout the nation that have been touched by her efforts. Mr. Speaker, although the Federal Government is losing out with Hilda's retirement, I can selfishly say I am thrilled that this precious gem is coming home to Kentucky.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated advocate of academic excellence, Mr. Ron Eaglin. After serving more than 12 years as president of Morehead State University, President Eaglin is retiring and embarking on a new stage of life. I want to express my deepest gratitude for his many contributions. President Eaglin has led a distinguished career in academia, playing a critical role in improving the lives of countless students from across my congressional district in Southern and Eastern Kentucky. Under his leadership, Morehead State University has taken great strides forward and garnered national recognition as one of the top public regional universities in the South. During President Eaglin's tenure, the University opened two regional campuses, worked toward the creation of Kentucky's first online degree program, created the Space Science Center, and developed only the fourth space science bachelor's degree in America. MSU also achieved its highest enrollments in the school's 117-year history, peaking at 9,509 in the fall of 2003. Through his tireless efforts, the school's institutional endowment rose from $500,000 to $25 million. He's also overseen $75 million in capital construction projects, which have greatly enhanced MSU's campus. These are just a few of President Eaglin's many accomplishments. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank President Ron Eaglin for the time and effort he has invested in the lives of students in Kentucky, and for his friendship throughout the years. Although his days with Morehead State University are drawing to a close, I know his contributions will live on for many years to come. I want to wish him and his family all the best for this new chapter in life.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Latham), a very hard-working member of our subcommittee.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I cannot close this debate without thanking some people. My colleague on the other side of the aisle has been marvelous to work with. He is demanding about the facts, but he is agreeable in working with us on the bill. I want to thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo) especially for his great work on this subcommittee, as he does in other parts of the Congress. Mr. Speaker, the Speaker of this House was very, very instrumental as late as the early hours of this morning in trying to remove snags that might prevent this bill from being placed on the floor, and I have to publicly compliment the Speaker and thank him for taking the personal interest that he did in helping us to move the passage of the bill to the floor. I can say the same for the majority leader. We had a tough snag that the other body had placed in the way of this bill's coming to the floor, and as late as 2 o'clock this morning, the Speaker of the House and your majority leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) were up there working in their offices on the telephones to make this day possible. I have to publicly compliment them on doing a great job to help us. Mr. Speaker, finally, let me say thanks to this great staff. We would not be here without them. They do the hard work. They are up all night doing the tedious work. My chief of staff, Michelle Mrdeza, has just been terrific in making this day possible and making the subcommittee work. As did Stephanie Gupta and Jeff Ashford and Tom McLemore and Terry Tyborowski and Kelly Wade, and Brian Dunlop and Ben Nicholson. These last two, Brian from the Secret Service, a fellow with us, and Ben Nicholson, a fellow from the Coast Guard, have been with us all this year and they will be rotating off this assignment now. I want to publicly thank them especially for their service with us on this subcommittee. I want to thank my chief of staff, Will Smith, and Beverly Pheto of the minority staff, who has been especially helpful. We would not be here without them, Mr. Speaker, and I think we should publicly thank them for the great work they do. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Members for being understanding of the difficulties in putting this bill together. We are trying to fund some 53,000 units of local public safety, as well as all the other myriad of things that go into funding this 22-agency new department in its second year. I want to thank the Members for being understanding and supportive and helpful in making that possible.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young).

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, my intention is to be brief, and I hope that the debate today is brief because of the hour and the day of the week and the day of the session. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to present to the body the second-ever conference report for the Department of Homeland Security. This agreement provides $32 billion for the Department. That is $1.1 billion above the current level and $496 million over the President's request. These amounts exclude the $2 billion supplemental provided in September for Hurricanes Charlie and Francis, as well as the $6.5 billion in supplemental funding formally included in as part of this bill for Ivan and Jeanne. Including these funds, the Department will receive $38.5 billion in fiscal year 2005. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not mention my concerns over attempts to add extraneous matters to this bill. I appreciate the desire by some people to attach legislative riders to appropriations bills. After all, appropriations bills are must-do legislation. However, these attempts, and in particular the actions taken by the other body to add extraneous matter, have led to unnecessary delays in the consideration of this bill that funds important homeland security programs. My colleagues might be interested to know that FEMA is running out of money. Despite the $2 billion given to FEMA just 4 weeks ago, the pot is almost empty, practically drained dry. There is an unprecedented amount of work to be done in the country because of Hurricanes Charlie, Francis, Ivan and Jeanne, and, simply put, without some very creative accounting, FEMA would be out of money today. I am pleased that the Military Construction conference agreement includes emergency funds to help Florida, especially, recover from the devastation of the recent hurricanes, providing an additional $5.6 billion for those efforts. Mr. Speaker, in just one year, the Department of Homeland Security has made tremendous progress. More work obviously needs to be done, but the Department, I think, is clearly on the right track, identifying our vulnerabilities, matching them to threats and putting out guidance on ways to protect our homeland. The conference agreement builds upon the successes of the past year and includes initiatives to move us closer to our goals of prevention, preparedness and response. In the interests of time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight just a few of the items included in the proposed agreement, items I know are of interest to all of the Members. First, there is $4 billion in the bill for our first responders. The agreement strikes a balance between funding high-risk communities and providing support for States and localities to achieve and maintain minimum levels of preparedness. The bill includes $1.1 billion for the basic formula grants and $1.2 billion to improve security in our urban and most populated areas. There is $9.8 billion in the bill for border protection and related activities, including $145 million for new inspection and detection technologies. There is $340 million for the U.S. Visit Program, and there is $1.1 billion for detention and removal operations on our borders. The conferees provide $26.5 million in new funding to provide 750 additional beds for detainees, permit removal of 5,000 additional deportable aliens, and reduce the risk that such aliens will be released into our communities while they await deportation. This funding will also advance our efforts to create smart borders that keep terrorists out without stemming the flow of free commerce or legitimate travel into and from the country. Thirdly, the conference agreement supports security for all modes of transportation, including $5.1 billion for the Transportation Security Administration, with $673 million for our Federal air marshals program. There is $118 million in the bill for air cargo screening, which we hear so much about. This money will support the hiring of 100 new air cargo inspectors, the development of new cargo screening technology and the expansion of canine enforcement teams. The bill also requires TSA to triple the number of cargo inspections on passenger aircraft. Let me repeat that, Mr. Speaker, in case someone may have questioned what I said. This bill requires the Transportation Security Administration to triple the number of cargo inspections on passenger planes. The agreement also funds several initiatives for rail security, including $150 million for grants to high threat rail systems, hiring and deploying rail security inspectors and canine teams to screen for explosives and furthering intelligence-related activities. Also, Mr. Speaker, there is $1.1 billion for science and technology, targeting the research and development of technologies to detect biohazards and nuclear detection technology for cargo. We also continue to fully fund R&D for anti-missile devices aimed at commercial aircraft. Finally, there is $894 million for the information analysis and infrastructure protection. That is a mouthful, but it is to complete an inventory of critical infrastructure in the country, enhance current communications between Federal, State and local homeland security personnel, interoperability, if you will, and to assist local communities as they put protective measures in place to protect our hometowns. Mr. Speaker, the important work of the Department of Homeland Security cannot be emphasized enough. I believe this conference agreement builds on the progress of the past year and substantially furthers the protection of our homeland. I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee will soon bid farewell to our Congressional Fellow, Lt. Ben Nicholson, who has served the Committee on Appropriations over the past three years in two different Subcommittees. Lt. Ben Nicholson has been detailed to the Committee from the United States Coast Guard since 2001. He served initially with the Transportation Subcommittee; spent a year helping establish the new Transportation-Treasury Subcommittee; and this year came to work with the Homeland Security Subcommittee. Mr. Speaker, the Appropriations Committee had never had a detailee from the Coast Guard. Lt. Ben Nicholson was a pathbreaker for the service in that role, and he performed admirably. He did everything we asked of him, with pinpoint accuracy and usually ahead of time. I would also add that he served the Committee during interesting times, perhaps more interesting than he imagined when he accepted the job. Eight months after he began, the 9/ 11 terrorist attacks occurred. Immediately after that, the anthrax attacks occurred. He assisted the Committee in overseeing the establishment of the Transportation Security Administration, including key analysis, which demonstrated the overstaffing of screening personnel in smaller airports. He made sure that shipbuilding loans for the Maritime Administration were contingent upon management improvements in the contracting and oversight process. And he properly evaluated, and helped us provide for, critical facility repairs at MARAD's James River Reserve Fleet, which was devastated by Hurricane Isabel last year. Ben's maritime experience and background were simply invaluable to our Committee. On the Homeland Subcommittee, we have benefited from the experience Lt. Nicholson gained as a Coast Guard Officer, in particular his insights into the operations of a complex military organization that is combined with a large domestic agency. He has superb analytical skills that have been critical in our review of a $32 billion budget request and in developing complex spreadsheets that synthesize funding issues into easily understood documents we have used in hearings, closed briefings, in Full Committee, and on the floor. His infectious energy, his focus, and superb analytic and technical skills have also helped keep the momentum for this bill moving forward. His high standards of professionalism and thoroughness are beyond reproach, and his contributions have been highly valued. Through all of this, Ben maintained the decorum and professionalism that we have all come to expect from our military officer corps, and he has represented the Coast Guard with the highest integrity and competence. Lt. Nicholson has served me, this Subcommittee, the Transportation-Treasury Subcommittee, and the House well. We are sorry to see him leave, and will miss him as our colleague--but are glad to count him as a friend. Each of us on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee wish Ben all the best as he moves forward in his career, where we anticipate seeing great things of him in the coming years. I am grateful for his contributions. Mr. Speaker, the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee will soon bid farewell to our Congressional Fellow, Brian Dunlop, who has served the Committee on Appropriations over the past 2 years in two different Subcommittees. Mr. Dunlop will soon be leaving to resume duties as a senior Special Agent for the U.S. Secret Service. Special Agent Dunlop came to the former Treasury-Postal Subcommittee during the summer of 2002, and has proven himself indispensable to the smooth functioning of the Committee during the intense period surrounding the planning for, and inauguration of, the new Homeland Security Department and the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. His strong understanding of organizational dynamics, of operational issues and real-world, real- time considerations for building a successful new Department contributed significantly to the success of this subcommittee. Brian brought to the appropriations process clear, thoughtful analysis and mature judgment developed in his successful career in criminal investigation and protective operations. He has clearly mastered the technical issues and folkways of the appropriations process and he undoubtedly has as good a working knowledge of the nooks and crannies of the Department of Homeland Security as anyone working there. Special Agent Dunlop has provided insight into sensitive law enforcement and security matters involved in setting up and overseeing DHS in its capacity as the newest member of the Intelligence Community. In this capacity, he facilitated the work of this Subcommittee by developing detailed analyses, preparing classified briefings, writing easy to understand factsheets and briefing packages on extremely technical issues; and developing and implementing complicated oversight travel for the Subcommittee. Brian has also been the ``go to'' man when the Subcommittee required answers on crosscutting law enforcement issues, such as coordinating the security efforts of multiple agencies during high threat periods; as well as developing consistency in professional standards, training, and gun use policies throughout DHS. Brian was instrumental in evaluating the need to deploy Infrastructure Protection personnel to states and localities, whose responsibility will be to work with the public and private sector to implement security measures to protect critical infrastructure. His analysis and recommendations will have lasting effects, as protective security advisors will now be on site in every state in order to better secure our nation's infrastructure. Throughout his service here, Brian has shown unqualified professionalism, perception, and the great combination of a keen sense of humor, a cool head, and a modesty rarely seen on Capitol Hill. Special Agent Dunlop has served me, this Subcommittee, and the House well. We are sorry to see him leave, and will miss him as our colleague--but are glad to count him as a friend. Each of us on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee wish Brian all the best as he moves forward in his career, where we anticipate seeing great things of him in the coming years. I am grateful for his contributions. Mr. Speaker, I include the following for the Record. [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH09OC04.039 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH09OC04.040 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH09OC04.041 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH09OC04.042 Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.