Bush Budget Boosts Homeland Security Projects President Bush’s proposed $40.2 billion budget for the Homeland Security Department represents a 10% increase over this year’s spending and “continues the dramatic growth for agencies that are now a part of DHS,” the department said. Priority projects in the budget include: Strengthening Border and Port Security •The Container Security Initiative. An increase of $25 million over the current funding of $101 million to pre-screening cargo before it reaches U.S. shores. •The United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program’s (US -VISIT). The budget would fund continued expansion of the program to screen visitors to the United States. •Aerial Surveillance and Sensor Technology. Increased funding for flights supporting the Border Patrol and for long range radar operations. •Radiation Detection Monitors. The budget provides $50 million for the next generation of technology to screen passengers and cargo coming into the country. •CBP Targeting Systems. Increased funding for staffing and technology acquisition to support the National Targeting Center, trend analysis, and the Automated Targeting Systems to aid in identifying high-risk cargo and passengers. •U.S. Coast Guard. An 8% increase over 2004. Enhancing Biodefense •Project BioShield. Funds would increase 186% to allow the government to pre-purchase critically needed vaccines and medications for biodefense. •Improving Bio-surveillance. The Science and Technology directorate’s funding for environmental activities would more than double to $118 million. A key component of this initiative will be an expansion and deployment of the next generation of technologies related to the BioWatch Program, a bio-surveillance warning system. Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection $864.6 million for the Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate, a 3% increase, to improve intelligence capabilities, to assess the vulnerabilities of the nation’s assets and critical infrastructure, to assess consequences and to add capabilities in remediation and protective actions. Improving Aviation Security Transportation Security Administration. An increase of nearly 20% to $5.3 billion. Support for state and local first responders The budget includes a total of $3.6 billion to support first-responder grants and allotting more of the funds to high-threat areas facing the greatest risk and vulnerability. Since March 1, 2003, DHS awarded or allotted over $8 billion to support state and local preparedness.