Legislation that would provide $1.1 billion for cybersecurity programs at the Department of Homeland Security was approved today by the House Appropriations Committee by a vote of 29-22.  Democrats opposed the bill because it contains $5 billion for “physical barriers and associated technology” on the border between the U.S. and Mexico, which they say is unnecessary.

The DHS appropriations bill for fiscal year 2019 would allow DHS to spend $1.1 billion “to help secure civilian (dot-gov) networks and to detect and prevent cyber attacks and foreign espionage,” the committee said. “Funds are also included to enhance and modernize emergency communications capabilities and to continue the modernization of the biometric identity management.”

The $1.1 billion is part of $1.9 billion for DHS’s National Protection and Programs Directorate. The bill would provide $2.2 billion for the Secret Service, an increase of $160.7 million above the fiscal year 2018 enacted level, and would include more money than DHS requested for cyber crime investigations by the Secret Service.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster response and recovery efforts would receive $7.2 billion, and $3.1 billion would be provided for FEMA grant programs, including $538 million for the State Homeland Security Grant Program — an increase of $31 million above fiscal year 2018 — and $661 million for the Urban Area Security Initiative — an increase of $31 million above fiscal year 2018. — Tom Leithauser, tom.leithauser@wolterskluwer.com

Courtesy TRDaily