Democrats streamline bill to authorize security programs
Provisions that were taken out will be addressed in other legislation, Democrats say.
A massive bill to authorize programs and spending for the Homeland Security Department is finally going to the House floor for a vote, but only after Democrats removed or altered dozens of provisions caught in jurisdictional disputes between committees.
The House is expected to pass the bill Wednesday. It would authorize nearly $40 billion for the department in fiscal 2008, or about $2 billion more than the White House requested.
Democrats said, however, that the only way to get the bill to the House floor was to remove or change provisions that were in dispute between lawmakers and committees. They pledged to find other legislative vehicles to address the provisions that were removed.
"There must be a collaborative and coordinated approach to securing this nation, and I intend to work with my colleagues in other committees to ensure that these critical issues are addressed," said House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss.
Ironically, one deleted provision called for single, principal committees in each chamber to be responsible for oversight and authorization of the Homeland Security Department. The commission that investigated the 2001 terrorist attacks made that recommendation.
Democratic aides emphasized that Thompson succeeded in getting an authorization bill to the floor for the first time in two years. This is also the earliest an authorization bill has gone to the floor and the first time it has occurred before committee action on the annual Homeland Security appropriations bill.
Republicans were upset with the decision to strip provisions, saying they were not included in the negotiations. They said about half of the provisions reported out of the House Homeland Security Committee -- some of which they consider critical to homeland security -- have either been stripped or significantly altered.
"Obviously, I'm disappointed that so many important homeland security provisions were stripped out of the bill," said House Homeland Security Committee ranking member Peter King, R-N.Y. "This had been a bipartisan process from the start, but as soon as the bill got out of committee that clearly was no longer a priority."
A GOP committee aide added: "It's ridiculous. I can't believe the Democrats no longer support these measures; it's really common-sense stuff."
For example, a provision requiring a test program that uses biometrics to identify illegal aliens in the country was dropped. Another provision intended to improve information-sharing among the Secret Service, other federal agencies, and state and local governments was stripped. Democrats also removed a provision governing how grants for connecting communications systems across jurisdictions can be used.
Democrats said the provisions will be addressed in other legislation.
Republicans and Democrats have proposed a few controversial amendments to the bill.
One proposal would authorize the department to use the Automated Targeting System to screen foreigners seeking to enter or depart the United States. The department already is using the system, but Democrats have objected to it on grounds that it could snag innocent travelers.
Another amendment would let states pass laws that are more stringent than Homeland Security regulations for securing chemical facilities. Key Republicans and the chemical industry oppose such a provision.