Hearing of the House Science and Technology Committee - H.R. 3916, Next Generation Border and Martime Security Technologies

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Hearing of the House Science and Technology Committee - H.R. 3916, Next Generation Border and Martime Security Technologies

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REP. ADRIAN SMITH (R-NE): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Hooks, if you wouldn't mind answering this question -- the 2008 budget request for the Border and Maritime Division is only about three percent of the total S&T budget. Can you elaborate on why that would seem at least on its face to be such a small amount as a percentage of the entire budget, or of the directorate's activities at least?

MR. HOOKS: Excuse me. I can say that within our S&T budget we -- in my particular area, in the transition area, we look at the 11 different functional areas that we've broken down the DHS mission space to. And with the leads of the different components, they've identified what their highest priority gaps are that require technology solutions. We propose different technology programs and cost estimate them to provide those solutions.

And then we've created a Technology Oversight Counsel that's led by the deputy secretary of the department where he looks in an integrated fashion across those 11 IPTs and the requirements of each of those 11 IPTs. And based on risk in those functional areas and his considerations, he's charged with the balancing of that effort to make sure that it's meeting across the spectrum of effort, the highest priority needs of the department. And that's how that budget is formed.

REP. SMITH: Okay, thank you. I yield back.

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