Last week’s disaster on the House floor demonstrates again the need to get serious about the Appropriations process. Instead of continuing along a track even the Chairman acknowledges is “next to impossible" to accomplish, Republicans and Democrats should develop a new budget deal that allows responsible investments in public safety and other critical priorities.
FY 2016 Budget Authority: $39.33 billion
FY 2016 Budget Request: $41.39 billion
FY2015 Enacted level: $39.67 billion
*Does not include major disaster relief funding
Highlights and Key Points:
The Chairman’s mark provides:
* $13.1 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is $511 million more than the FY2015 enacted level $347 million less than the President’s budget request.
* $6.1 billion for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is $174 million less than the FY2015 enacted level and $158 million less than the President’s budget request.
* $7.2 billion for the Transportation Security Administration, which is $4 million less than the FY2015 enacted level and $114 million less than the President’s request.
* $10.12 billion for the U.S. Coast Guard, which is $79 million less than the FY2015 enacted level and $361 million more than the President’s request.
* $1.9 billion for the U.S. Secret Service, which is $240 million more than the FY2015 enacted level and $33 million less than the President’s budget request.
* $4.4 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, not including funding for major disasters under the BCA adjustment. This is $26 million less than the President’s budget request and $89 million more than the FY2015 enacted level.
* $2.5 billion for FEMA state and local grants and training, which is equal to the FY2015 funding level and $299 million more than the President’s budget request.
** $25 million for Predisaster Mitigation, which is equal to the FY2015 enacted level and $175 million less than the President’s request.
** $100 million for Flood Mapping, which is equal to the FY2015 enacted level and $179 million less than the President’s request level.
* $3.99 billion for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is $772 million more than the FY2015 enacted level and $10 million less than the President’s budget request.
Additional Provisions
The Chairman’s mark:
* Continues the requirement to maintain 34,000 average daily detention beds.
* Includes a new provision prohibiting the use of funds to expand the DACA program or implement the DAPA program while the federal court injunction remains in effect.
* Includes a new provision providing an exemption from the H-2B visa cap in fiscal year 2016 for workers who held H-2B visas in FY 2013, FY 2014, or FY 2015.
* Includes a new provision that prohibits the use of funds to “approve, license, facilitate, authorize, or otherwise allow the trafficking or import of property confiscated by the Cuban Government."
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
