Last week the House Homeland Security Appropriations Committee passed its DHS FY 2019 Appropriations bill. As anticipated, the AFG and SAFER programs each were funded at $350 million ($700 million total), level funding over last year. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the same levels of funding.
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) was funded at $43.493 million, but we believe the separate construction category includes $1.5 million for upgrades to the USFA campus. The Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) program was funded at $45.33 million, including $10.15 million for equipment upgrades.
Other State and local government programs received the following funding marks:
$538 million State Homeland Security Grants
$661 million Urban Area Security Initiative
$100 million Public Transportation Security
$100 million Port Security
$350 million Emergency Management Performance Grants
$249.2 million National Pre-disaster Mitigation Fund
The House has now adjourned for its August recess and will not return until after Labor Day. The Senate remains in session for the first part of August. Both the House and the Senate will have the month of September to complete their appropriations bills before the end of FY 2018, September 30th. It is anticipated that the House will adjourn shortly thereafter to campaign for the upcoming election.
We will keep you closely appraised of further developments.
For more information, please contact GAC Co-chairs
John Granby [email protected],
Lee Morris [email protected],
David Durstine [email protected],
or GAC Sr. Advisor Dave Gatton [email protected]