Home > Newsroom > 2007 News Releases > Homeland Security and the War on Terrorism
For Immediate Release: June 15, 2007
Contact: Kimberly Allen, (202) 226-8364; (202) 420-1524 [cell]
House Passes Homeland Security Spending Bill Including Rothman Provision on Chemical Plant Security
(Washington, DC)—The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a new, sweeping Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Included in the bill’s many provisions was a stipulation that will allow New Jersey and other states to increase security requirements at chemical plants above and beyond existing minimum federal regulations. The measure was approved by a vote of 268 to 150.
The legislation provides $36.3 billion for important improvements in aviation and port security, additional border patrol agents, and training and equipment for first responders, among other items. The bill also grants increased funding for homeland security grants to urban areas like Northern New Jersey.
“Allowing the State of New Jersey to protect its chemical plants from al Qaeda attacks is one of the most important provisions in this legislation. It took a great deal of effort to overcome the chemical plant lobby, but so far so good. The next battle will be in the Senate,” said Rothman. “I’m also especially pleased that a majority of lawmakers agreed to increase funding for risk-based anti-terrorism grants to $800 million. That increase will directly help increase security in our high-risk area.”
To cut down on waste, fraud, and abuse, the bill includes accountability measures to end no-bid contracts. Among them is a requirement that grant and contract funds must be made available through a full and open competitive process with few exceptions.
Additionally, the 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations bill:
- Includes funding for 3,000 additional Border Patrol agents, bringing the number of Border Patrol agents to 17,819.
- Rejects the President’s proposed $1 billion cut for training and equipment for first responders and instead expands support for local law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders.
- Invests in port security by providing $400 million to protect critical port facilities and infrastructure, which is $190 million above the President’s request to meet the funding authorized in the Safe Ports Act.
- Improves aviation security by providing funding for new explosive detection systems at airports and funding to double the amount of cargo screened on passenger aircraft.
- Provides $225 million more than the President requested to protect critical transit infrastructure, including rail and ferry systems, in high-threat areas.
Congressman Rothman is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which recommends all federal spending.
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