Conference Report on H.R. 5441, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 5441, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007 -- (House of Representatives - September 29, 2006)
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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the pending Conference Report, and thank the Chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Mr. Hal Rogers, for his work on this legislation.
I appreciate the fact that this bill includes important provisions that consolidate the Noble Training Center with the Center for Domestic Preparedness; establish a Homeland Security Education Program; and ensure financial accountability of the Secure Border Initiative, which is similar to a provision of my bill--H.R. 6162--that the House passed yesterday.
In addition, this bill includes funding to add 1,500 new Border Patrol agents. In 2004, Congress authorized 2,000 new agents be added each year. To date, the Border Patrol has added fewer than 2,000 new agents.
In May, the President announced that the Border Patrol will increase its ranks by 6,000 new agents by FY 2009. At the current pace, we will not meet this goal.
I look forward to working with Members of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee to ensure that the Border Patrol will be able to make the President's goal a reality.
While I support the overall Conference Report, I am deeply concerned with one provision included by the other body.
This provision would require that all instructors at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center--referred to as FLET-C--be Federal employees.
This is a terrible provision that could prevent Federal law enforcement agencies--not just DHS--from being able to quickly and cost-effectively train their officers and agents. Particularly in emergency circumstances; like we experienced immediately after the 9-11 terrorist attack.
OMB Director Rob Portman wrote to Congress on September 6th regarding DHS Appropriations
and expressed his serious concern that this provision is too restrictive.
He wrote that by preventing public-private competition, the provision--quote: ``deprives the Department of the operational efficiencies to be gained by competition, and limits its ability to direct Federal resources to support other priorities.''
I have reviewed FLETC's course list and find it indefensible that anyone would advocate that only a Federal employee can efficiently and effectively teach some of these courses.
For example why is it that only a Federal employee can teach ``7 Habits of Highly Effective People,'' or ``Archeological Resources Protection,'' or ``Self Leadership Through Understanding Human Behavior?''
All of these are courses taught at FLETC facilities. All of these courses could very easily be taught by a State or local government official, a college professor, or a professional from the private sector.
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the need for FLETC training has increased dramatically, and FLETC is under significant strain to meet these needs.
Should an emergency arise tomorrow, I am certain that this provision will make it impossible for the Department to be able to meet any surge in demand for training that might arise.
I urge my colleagues to consider the serious ramifications of this provision, and join me in working to lift this ban in the future to ensure our Federal law enforcement agencies can meet all their training needs.
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