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 House
Approves 63% Increase for Homeland Security R&D
Reprinted
from SSTI Weekly Digest, a publication of the State
Science and Technology Institute.
The
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) could have
more money to spend on science and tech initiatives
in fiscal year (FY) 2004, thanks to a 63.1 percent increase
in R&D funding approved Tuesday by the U.S. House
of Representatives. Approximately $900.4 million - or
$348.4 million more than the previous year - will go
toward DHS's Science and Technology (S&T) budget
in FY04.
The Bush Administration had requested $803.4 million
for the department's S&T budget.
In an accompanying report to the FY04 DHS Appropriations
Bill, the House appropriations committee states DHS
should work to develop new technologies and capabilities
that protect U.S. soil. Excerpts of the committee's
testimony on four R&D program areas are provided
below:
Science
and Technology Activities. "The Department is directed
to provide a report to the Committee by December 15,
2003, identifying all research, development, test and
evaluation, and standards development work being performed
by Departmental elements other than the Office of Science
and Technology."
Public Safety Technology Transfer Centers. "The
Committee encourages Science and Technology to work
with a public safety institute with experience in establishing
and working with public safety-oriented technology centers
to serve as a 'hub' for this network and to assist the
Department in establishing the architecture and coordination
of the Department's network of centers."
Rapid
Prototyping Program. "The Committee strongly supports
this effort and has provided an additional $50,000,000
to encourage and support innovative solutions to enhance
homeland security and engage the private sector in rapid
prototyping of homeland security technologies."
University or Fellowship Programs. "The Committee
has provided an additional $25,000,000 for university-based
centers of excellence . . . This additional funding
will allow the Department to evaluate and fund more
university proposals in fiscal year 2004. In addition
to this program, universities will also have access
to specific project funding in each of the other program
areas on a competitive basis." The appropriation
is $10 million above the President's request.
H.R.
2555, approved overwhelmingly in the House with a vote
of 425-2, is now with the Senate Committee on Appropriations
for its consideration.
SSTI
extends its gratitude to The American Institute of Physics
Bulletin of Science Policy News for providing us the
lead on this story. The bill and committee report, H.
Report 108-169, are available at http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app04.html
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