The House Appropriations Committee did not include in its proposed
fiscal year 2012 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill $76
million requested by President Barack Obama to purchase 275 additional advanced
inspection technology scanners and employ 535 staff to operate them.
The bill provides $7.8 billion for the Transportation
Security Administration, an increase of $125 million from the year before but $293
million less than Obama's request.
"The Department’s budget has grown at a rapid rate—over
42 percent since 9/11—and while it is critical that we maintain crucial
measures to keep our nation safe, we must also protect our country from the
very real dangers of uncontrolled deficits and debt," according to a
statement attributed to Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), chairman of the appropriations
committee. "This legislation will prioritize funding for frontline
operations and programs to uphold the highest level of national security, while
trimming back budgets in less essential areas."
The $40.6 billion the bill allocates to DHS is 2.6 percent lower
than the year before and 7 percent lower than Obama's request.