CBP Commissioner Testifies on CBP's FY 2009 Budget Request, Etc.
On March 6, 2008, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Ralph Basham testified on CBP's fiscal year 2009 budget request before the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
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According to his written statement, CBP's FY 2009 budget request is over $9 billion and represents an increase of 20% over FY 2008.
Highlights from the Commissioner's written testimony include the following increases in CBP's budget request (partial list):
$1 million for additional staffing for CBP's Regulatory Program.
$35.5 million for 238 new CBP officers to support the deployment and operation of Radiation Portal Monitors (RPMs) at U.S. seaports, allowing CBP to conduct radiological scanning of arriving seaborne cargo and providing funding for the operation and maintenance of RPMs.1
$10 million to replace obsolete Non-Intrusive Imaging (NII) Systems used to inspect small-targeted cargo without the need for an intrusive manual search.
$25 million to hire 212 CBP officers and 22 support positions to provide an increased capability to identify and address potential threats or harmful weapons at land border ports of entry on U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada.
$160 million for new and expanded permanent facilities to accommodate current and increased Border Patrol agent presence on both the northern and southwest borders and to renovate CBP-owned land port of entry inspection facilities.
$107 million for the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). This funding will complete the roll-out of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) infrastructure and technology in support of WHTI to cover 95% of land border traffic at the top 39 ports of entry.
With funds requested in FY 2009, CBP will complete the deployment of the RFID sensor and license plate reader technologies started in 2008 and add 89 new CBP officers at U.S. land border ports of entry.
1See ITT's Online Archives or 03/13/08 news, 08031399 3, for BP summary of the House Energy and Commerce Committee reporting that a Department of Homeland Security-sponsored review showed that tests used by DHS to certify new RPMs were flawed and Committee Members calling for independent testing of the new generation of radiation detectors.
(See testimony for Commissioner Basham's comments on CBP efforts to facilitate legitimate travel, land border enforcement progress, etc.)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 02/14/08 news, 08021410, for BP summary of President Bush submitting his FY 2009 budget request to Congress, which includes budget information for CBP.
See ITT's Online Archives or 02/08/08 news, 08020850 1, for BP summary of Bush's proposed budget request for CBP.)
Transcript of Basham's testimony (dated 03/06/08) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/congressional_test/land_border_prog.xml