Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) expressed his support for the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations and Authorization bills that the U.S. House of Representatives passed yesterday and today. Larsen was especially pleased that both bills contained funding and focus for our Northern Border needs.

“Border security is backyard security for many in Northwest Washington,” Larsen noted. “This bill moves us forward on our path to stop illegal traffic at our Northern Border without slowing commerce and travel.”

Yesterday’s Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (H.R. 2360) included $5.8 billion for Customs and Border Protection. This funding, combined with previous funding in the 2005 emergency war supplemental, will hire 1,500 new Border Patrol personnel in fiscal years 2005 and 2006. Larsen will continue his efforts to ensure that 20 percent of those agents are stationed at the Northern Border as mandated in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 that is now law.

Additionally, the bill includes $3.8 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That funding, combined with the supplemental, will hire 568 new customs agents and provide 3,870 new beds for detainees.

“As co-chair of Washington’s 2010 Olympics Task Force, I am working to make sure that the federal government does its part now to prepare Washington state for the security and traffic challenges that will face us,” Larsen said. 

Larsen also included in both the Appropriations bill and the Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (H.R. 1817) language that recognizes the upcoming 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia and the impact the events will have on the Northern Border at Washington state. Larsen included language that directs the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a review, in conjunction with the appropriate, Washington state and Canadian stakeholders, and to report back to the Homeland Security Committee within six months about their analysis of expected border flow, border security, border wait times, and the possible need for increased border personnel.

“Future border security initiatives like US VISIT and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will pose new challenges to traffic and commerce, and our Northern Border communities are on the front lines of dealing with those challenges,” Larsen said. “I will work with my colleagues in Congress to make sure that these initiatives are making us safer without severely hindering legal travel and commerce at the Northern Border.”

The bill also includes $14 million for NEXUS and other programs using new technology to facilitate travel at the Mexican and Canadian borders.

Both of the bills passed the House today. The Senate must now pass its versions of the bills.