ICYMI: Against the Odds, Amodei Guides Homeland Security Bill Through Committee

Washington, D.C. - This week, the House Appropriations Committee approved Subcommittee Chairman Amodei's FY27 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, delivering a hard-fought victory during one of the most pivotal and politically contentious periods in the Department's history.

Rep. Mark Amodei has served on the House Appropriations Committee since the 114th Congress in 2015. After chairing the Legislative Branch Subcommittee during the 118th Congress, he assumed leadership of the Homeland Security Subcommittee in the 119th Congress. Taking the gavel amid the Biden Administration's border crisis, Amodei has worked to strengthen border security and ensure the Department has the resources needed to support the current administration's enforcement and homeland security priorities.

"First, I'd like to thank each member of this subcommittee for working together to deliver a bill that embodies responsible legislating," said Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman Mark Amodei. "We all know the importance of this agency and the work it does every day to secure our homeland. While it has been no easy feat to chair a subcommittee in such a polarized environment, this bill was drafted with a deliberate focus on building upon investments that have strengthened our capabilities while ensuring resources are directed where they are needed most.

"At its core, this bill maintains our strong posture on immigration enforcement, expands the use of technology to detect and stop deadly drugs from entering our communities, provides resources to investigate and protect victims of exploitation and human trafficking, streamlines preparedness and security efforts for upcoming and major national events, modernizes maritime operations, strengthens disaster response efforts, and helps deter ongoing aggression generated by nation-state adversaries.

"It has been an absolute honor to serve as a cardinal on the Appropriations Committee. I am proud of what we have accomplished over the years, especially our diligence to restore regular order and bring fiscal sanity back to the appropriations process under Chairman Cole's leadership. While you can never say mission accomplished in this business, I feel incredibly grateful to be concluding my service with a strong proposal such as this and a deep appreciation for the colleagues and staff who make the work possible."

Quote of the week:

"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."

Fiscal Year 2027 Homeland Security Appropriations Act

The Homeland Security Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $64.9 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), of which $2.9 billion is provided for defense activities. The bill also includes $6.2 billion in discretionary appropriations that are offset by fee collections and $28.39 billion as an allocation adjustment for major disaster response and recovery activities.

The legislation includes the resources required to protect the homeland and keep American communities safe, secure, and resilient. The bill provides the necessary personnel, training, and technology to secure our air, land, and maritime borders and the nation's critical infrastructure against nation-state adversaries.

The measure was approved by the Committee with a vote of 34 to 27.

Key Takeaways

Champions public safety and homeland preparedness by:

• Upholding the America First vision by realigning DHS priorities around its fundamental mission: defending the nation against the threat posed by terrorists, criminals, and foreign adversaries to ensure the safety and security of every American.
• Enhancing resources to detect and counter the spread of deadly drugs, like fentanyl, that poison our communities.
• Partnering with state and local law enforcement to enhance immigration enforcement and homeland defense capabilities.
• Protecting vulnerable children by strengthening investigations of exploitation, human trafficking, and forced labor.
• Bolstering disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts for U.S. communities through increased grant funding for firefighters and first responders.
• Supporting security preparation and planning for the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, and other National Special Security Events.

Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by:

• Enhancing the operational execution of Public Law 119-21, which prioritizes security and safety through long-term border security and immigration investments.
• Funding the military pay raise for Coast Guard servicemembers.
• Prohibiting funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts.
• Ensuring no funding to non-governmental organizations that facilitated the Biden border crisis.
• Codifying the Trump Administration's reductions to bloated federal bureaucracy.

Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by:

• Providing $3.8 billion for ICE custody operations to strengthen the Trump Administration's efforts to detain and deport all criminal and removable aliens.
• Providing $439 million to sustain 22,000 Border Patrol agents.
• Providing $226 million to improve baggage screening equipment at airports.
• Providing $135 million to counter China by increasing the Coast Guard's Indo-Pacific footprint.
• Providing $97 million for unmanned systems to improve maritime domain awareness.

Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by:

• Reallocating $100 million from previous appropriations to sustain the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's (CISA) core mission functions.

A summary of the bill is available here(link is external).