Bush shares details of $1.95 billion border security funding request

President Bush on Thursday sent Congress details of his $1.95 billion border security request, which he is pushing lawmakers to include in the fiscal 2006 supplemental spending bill for Iraq and Afghanistan and hurricane relief.

Appropriations aides were doubtful that Congress can vote on a final package before the Memorial Day recess. And despite dire warnings from the Pentagon, agency officials have told lawmakers they can make it through June by tapping 4th quarter fiscal 2006 resources.

The border request, offset mostly through reductions in Pentagon procurement accounts, largely eschews the capital investments in the Senate's rival $1.9 billion border security package. Instead, the request focuses on personnel costs, including $756 million to deploy 6,000 National Guard troops to the southern border.

The troops would stay through next year in largely administrative duties, such as operating surveillance systems and installing fences and vehicle barriers. In addition, the request contains $410 million to hire and train 1,000 Border Patrol agents, part of an effort to continue in fiscal 2007 and the following year to double the number of border agents to 6,000 during Bush's tenure.

In a letter to congressional leaders accompanying the proposal, Bush wrote that the additional resources "will end the practice of catch and release along our southern border once and for all by increasing detention, transportation and removal capabilities." Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Judd Gregg, R-N.H., sponsor of the Senate's rival package, protested the absence of equipment expenditures such as Customs vehicles, helicopter and aircraft replacement and Coast Guard patrol boats.

The Senate relied on a 2.8 percent cut in Pentagon accounts to pay for the plan, leaving the agency and Congress flexibility to implement them. The White House request targets specific accounts.

The biggest impact would be felt in Army procurement, trimming $873 million from the White House's initial Feb. 16 request for items such as heavy trucks, generators, armored security vehicles, and electronic jammers. Another $323 million would come from Marine Corps equipment such as armored humvees and add-on armor kits, while $158.2 million would be cut from Army aircraft procurement, such as replacement of Apache attack helicopters destroyed in the war.

Money for military construction projects would be cut as well, such as funding for a bulk fuel storage facility in Afghanistan. Office of Management and Budget Deputy Director Austin Smythe told reporters that such items were not critical to the war effort and that no operational or personnel funds were being targeted. He said the procurement items could be deferred to future legislation, such as the fiscal 2007 Defense bill.