News

Washington, D.C.— Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the FY2019 Homeland Security Appropriations bill and the FY2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, which include key provisions advanced by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), including funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security efforts for customs and border protection, disaster relief, transportation security, cybersecurity, and funding to implement the recently passed tax reform bill. The bill also includes important restrictions on the ability for the U.S. government to acquire telecommunications equipment services from ZTE Corporation, Huawei Technologies Company, and other high risk information systems.

“My work on the Senate Appropriations Committee is focused on improving federal programs that will serve to benefit Floridians and the nation,” said Rubio. “I am pleased to see that many provisions I championed on behalf of Florida and Puerto Rico were advanced in these bills, as well as prohibiting the use of funds to buy equipment and services from ZTE and Huawei. These telecommunications companies pose a national security threat to the United States, and I commend my colleagues for supporting this commonsense provision.”

Select Rubio provisions included in the FY2019 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill and FY2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill:

FY2019 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill ($55.15 billion):

Department of Homeland Security (DHS):

• $40.5 million for University Programs

U.S. Coast Guard ($10.19 billion):

• $400 million for the Offshore Patrol Cutter, which will be built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City  
• $7.792 billion for Coast Guard operations
• $175 million for MH-60T cabin replacements
• Report language encouraging expedient review of the potential transfer of Coast Guard property in Jupiter Island for inclusion in Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ($11.69 billion):

• $7.23 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund
• $605 million for Urban Area Security Initiative grants
• $250 million for Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program
• $700 million for Fire and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants
• $10 million for Nonprofit Security Grant Program
• $250 million for National Pre-Disaster Mitigation Fund
• $2 million for Over-the-Road Bus Security-Intercity Bus Security Grant Program
• $15 million for Regional Catastrophic Preparedness grants
• Report language encouraging FEMA to evaluate the need for new technologies, including an inventory of atmospheric water generation machines, to better prepare for a disaster response.
• Report language encouraging FEMA to support community organized water and wastewater emergency response activities and mutual aid networks as part of its wider, focus on improving the security, resilience, response, and recovery capabilities of crucial utilities.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) ($4.84 billion):

• $50 million to continue reimbursing airports—including Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota-Bradenton, Southwest Florida, and Jacksonville—that incurred costs associated with the development of a partial or completed in-line baggage system post 9/11
• $45 million for the Law Enforcement Officer Reimbursement Program
• $162.4 million for the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program
• Report language: recognizing that Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) are the front line for aviation security and their proficiency at screening carry-on baggage at airport checkpoint can have a direct impact on the safety of the public; and encouraging TSA to continue to develop and field adaptive x-ray baggage screening training tools to improve TSO performance on existing screening systems and of the next generation Computed Tomography systems.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ($14.30 billion):

• $4.23 billion for CBP’s Office of Field Operations (OFO), which includes additional funding to hire 375 new OFO officers.
• Report language recognizing challenges in recruiting and retaining employees which has exacerbated chronic staffing problems at U.S. ports of entry, including at Florida’s airports and sea ports, and requiring CBP to detail the process by which staffing at all ports of entry is determined.
• Report language requiring CBP provide port owners with transparency into future capital requirements.

FY2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill:

• Includes modified language prohibiting the use of funds for the purchase of equipment and services from ZTE, Huawei company
• $208.751 million for the Department of Treasury to invest in IT improvements, and conduct economic analysis of tax regulatory action
• $159 million for the Treasury Office Terrorism and Financial Intelligence
• $250 million to fund the operations of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) fund
• $11.263 billion for general IRS services including $77 million for implementing tax reform
• Provides technical assistance from the Department of Treasury for Puerto Rico
• Includes report language concerning the impact on disaster relief benefits when SBA Disaster Loans are approved but declined by the applicant
• $15 million for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program
• Includes report language on Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) dispersion
• $280 million for the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program at Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
• Report language explicitly rejects transferring the HIDTA program from ONDCP
• $99 million for the Drug Free Communities program