WASHINGTON – A Senate subcommittee has approved a bill to spend $47.1 billion to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Coast Guard and other agencies in fiscal 2016.
The legislation designates $160 million in emergency funds for the Coast Guard and $6.7 billion for a disaster relief fund operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration and the Secret Service would also receive funding from the bill, The Hill reports.
The Secret Service would receive a $258 million funding boost under the measure. The funds would be used to support activities related to the 2016 presidential campaign, as well as detail for President Barack Obama when he leaves office.
The legislation also allots funding that a panel recommended in reviewing the Secret Service’s internal problems.
The bill also includes language directing DHS to maintain 34,000 detention beds next year.
The House Appropriations Committee has not yet released its version of the bill.
Congress must pass new government spending by Oct. 1 to avoid a shutdown.
