The House Appropriations Committee’s proposed fiscal year 2018 budget for the Department of Homeland Security includes $44.3 billion in discretionary funds — an increase of $1.9 billion from the FY 2017 enacted level.The committee said Tuesday the legislation includes $1.6 billion for the construction of a wall along the U.S. southern border as well as $6.8 billion for disaster relief and emergency response efforts.
Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) said the bill would provide funds to start building the border wall, update existing border security infrastructure, recruit more border patrol agents and support detention operations.
The bill would also designate $13.8 billion for the Customs and Border Protection, $7 billion for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, $10.5 billion for the U.S. Coast Guard, $7.2 billion for the Transportation Security Administration and $2 billion for the U.S. Secret Service.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will receive $7.3 billion for its disaster relief account and the National Protection and Programs Directorate will get $1.8 billion for cybersecurity initiatives.
