According to a report released today by INPUT, the leading provider of government market intelligence, that the proposed FY2005 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill increases DHS' budget by $2.8 billion, a 9.4 percent increase over the FY 2004 enacted level.
The INPUT/Output report states that the largest funding increase will take place in the United States Coast Guard with $705 million proposed over FY2004 budgeting levels, giving the agency a total budget of $7.5 billion. The Deepwater Program, the Coast Guard's modernization program, has been funded for $776 million, a $112 million increase over FY2004.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is projected to have a total budget of $5.2 billion, an increase of $649 million over FY 2004. The programs within TSA that could receive significant increases are Airport Information Technology, budgeted at $292.9 million, a $154 million increase, and Checkpoint Support, budgeted at $161.1 million, a $99 million increase.
According to the INPUT/Output report, biological countermeasures – part of the Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate – will receive and increase of $149 million in funding over FY 2004, with a total budget for FY 2005 of $346.3 million. The S&T Directorate has proposed FY 2005 funding of $1.1 billion, $157 million over FY 2004.
The INPUT/Output report discusses the budget and grant opportunities within the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness with the Department of Homeland Security. As of March 26, this office has all grant-making authority across the DHS, and reports directly to the secretary of Homeland Security.
The report indicates that the Senate Appropriations committee has recommended $3.75 billion be set aside in grants assistance to first responders for FY 2005, a $250 million decrease from the set asides in FY 2004. The Urban Area Security Initiative is expected to receive a $480 million increase in funding in FY05. The INPUT report highlights these programs and budgeted amounts.
"In order for the Department of Homeland Security to continue to function effectively under increasing labor costs, a heavier reliance on technology is required," said Kim Hovda, manager, grant products, INPUT. "The technologies necessary for the future will be the technologies that replace human effort with automated effort. The department is taking steps toward this through research efforts being led by the Science and Technology Directorate and the Transportation Security Administration."
To download a summary of INPUT's Homeland Security FY 2005 budget analysis report, go to media.input.com.