Port security grants are funded at $400 million as authorized by the SAFE Port Act $190 million above last years level. The legislation also includes $13 million for the secure freight initiative and global trade exchange programsfunding which will further help close another glaring weakness in our homeland defenses. I am a vocal proponent of comprehensive immigration reform. This includes reforms to strengthen of our borders. The omnibus moves us closer to that goal. The bill provides $6.8 billion for Customs and Border Protection. CBP. to improve security at the borders. including funds to continue limited use of National Guard troops on the border and hire 3.000 additional border patrol agents. The bill also provides $1.2 billion for border security fencing to complete 370 miles by the end of fiscal year 2008 and almost $15 million for additional unmanned aerial systems to patrol the border. And the omnibus includes $475 million for the U.S. VISIT program used to track the entry and exit of foreign visitors and $36 million for a new electronic travel authorization for travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries which was authorized by the 911 implementation bill. I am also pleased that another initiative I advocatedthe development of a national strategy for use of closed circuit televisions to enhance national securitywas included in the final omnibus package. The omnibus also helps us strengthen chemical security by providing $50 milliona significant increase over the Presidents original requestto protect chemical facilities from terrorist attacks.
Keywords matched
Border Protection Visa border patrol border security immigration